Engaging Employers in Apprentice Training: Focus Group Insights from Small-to-Medium-Sized Employers in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Several factors have been identified to influence the registration and retention of apprentices in the construction trades. Employer engagement is a key factor to promote growth in apprenticeships in the construction trades as participation rates continue to be low among small-to-medium-sized employers. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the Ontario Electrical League’s (OEL) employer mentorship program through the perspectives of small-to-medium-sized employers using a qualitative approach. Two focus groups were conducted virtually with 11 employers. Focus group audio transcripts were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. Themes were generated using a data-driven approach to examine the relationships between mentorship program outcomes and perspectives on industry-related recruitment and retention barriers. Three themes were identified: (a) long-term apprentice recruitment and retention challenges; (b) equity and mental health in the workplace; and (c) industry challenges and mentorship program outcomes. Generally, this sample of employers appreciated the value of the OEL mentorship program through praise of the continued educational support, employer management expertise, hiring resources, and apprentice onboarding tools despite industry barriers in trade stigma, equity and mental health in the workplace, and recruitment and retention challenges. Industry partners should work with these small-to-medium-sized employers to develop workplace initiatives and engage external partners to provide ongoing apprenticeship mentorship support to address the recruitment and retention barriers identified in this study. © 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Apprenticeship Gender Mental health workplace culture tradesperson

Index Keywords

Employment training human psychology Gender apprenticeship Article workplace Thematic analysis gender relations controlled study employer human experiment qualitative analysis Canada information processing mentor mental health Focus Groups Ontario small and medium-sized enterprise health promotion stigma comparative effectiveness in service training Inservice Training genetic transcription praise Ontario [Canada]

Author Affiliations

Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, MH, India, Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Saveetha Dental College And Hospitals, Chennai, TN, India

Funding & Acknowledgements

No funding information

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Engaging Employers in Apprentice Training: Focus Group Insights from Small-to-Medium-Sized Employers in Ontario, Canada

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