New ‘Make It Excellent’ Campaign Encourages Careers in the Skilled Trades

The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, today announced the launch of the Make It Excellent in the Skilled Trades campaign to encourage youth and underemployed individuals to pursue careers in the skilled trades through apprenticeship.

With approximately 6,000 construction workers expected to retire in the next 10 years, and the potential for thousands of new jobs created through new hydroelectric projects in Labrador, there is a great future for the next generation of local skilled tradespeople.

The Make It Excellent campaign highlights the skills, dedication and rewarding opportunities that come with a career in the skilled trades. It demonstrates how choosing this path means not only mastering a craft, but also securing good pay and long-term job stability right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The benefits of employers hiring apprentices is also featured, including generous wage subsidies and access to a talented pool of apprentices.

Apprenticeship programs are profiled in the campaign as opportunities for individuals to “earn while they learn”, gaining hands-on experience with talented mentors and journeypersons. Testimonials feature local apprentices and journeypersons from a variety of backgrounds, working as automotive service technicians, heavy duty equipment technicians, carpenters, welders, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, plumbers and electricians.

Another element is supports available for unemployed and underemployed individuals to complete pre-employment training programs of up to three years, which covers the length of most skilled trades programs. Newfoundland and Labrador offers some of Canada’s most generous skills development benefits, including covering tuition, books, living costs and child care expenses.

For more information about the campaign and to learn about opportunities in the skilled trades, visit MakeItExcellent.ca.

In addition to the Make it Excellent campaign, the Provincial Government has undertaken a number of actions to support skilled trades workforce development and training. These actions are outlined in the backgrounder.

Quotes

“The Make It Excellent campaign is an exciting opportunity to showcase the incredible potential of skilled trades careers in Newfoundland and Labrador. With a growing demand for skilled workers in our province, we are committed to providing the next generation with the tools, training, and support they need to succeed. It’s a great time to pursue a career in the trades, and we’re proud to offer opportunities for youth and underemployed individuals to learn, grow, and succeed right here at home.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“This campaign will help capture the attention of youth in Mount Pearl, and across the province, and get them thinking about how rewarding a career in the skilled trades can be. Tradespeople do excellent work and have the opportunity to build a great life in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Lucy Stoyles
Member of the House of Assembly for Mount Pearl North

“As a proud employer and advocate for apprentices and skilled trades in the automotive sector, we are committed to fostering an environment where skilled trade professionals can thrive. By investing in their training and development, we are not only strengthening our industry but also empowering the next generation of skilled workers. Together, we are driving innovation and excellence forward in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Stefan Pike
Executive General Manager, Steele Honda

“Apprenticing as a welder through the Youth Summer Apprenticeship Program has opened so many doors for me. I’ve gained real hands-on experience, learned from skilled mentors, and discovered a career that I’m passionate about. It’s exciting to know that I’m building a future in a trade that’s in high demand in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Taylor Whiffen
Welding Apprentice, Youth Apprenticeship Summer Program

“The Office to Advance Women Apprentices has proudly supported tradeswomen in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 15 years. During this time, much progress has been made toward gender equality in skilled trades. We have slowly changed the narrative that skilled trades aren’t an appropriate career path for women and girls. Despite this progress, female enrollment in apprentice programs remains extremely low. As this province faces critical skilled labor shortages it is more important than ever to encourage young women and girls to pursue rewarding and successful careers as tradeswomen.”
Lori LeDrew
Executive Director, Office to Advance Women Apprentices

-30-

BACKGROUNDER

Actions to Support Skilled Trades Workforce Development and Training

• Undertaking a review of the provincial apprenticeship system and finalizing an implementation plan for recommendations.
• Hiring a virtual learning strategist to provide customized support services for apprentices preparing to challenge the certification exam.
• Launching the Working Opportunities program, a game-changer for individuals facing barriers to education and training.
• Maintaining the harmonization of 23 skilled trades with other Atlantic provinces.
• Increasing direct outreach and engagement with high school students and underemployed to promote careers in the skilled trades and careers services available through Provincial Government employment centres.
• Continuing to fund the Trades NL Indigenous Skilled Trades Office, with locations in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner Brook, and St. John’s.
• Continuing to fund the Youth Apprenticeship Summer Program through Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Ongoing support for women apprentices through the Office to Advance Women Apprentices.
• Providing supports for newcomers in the skilled trades to obtain credentials and employment through the Fair Registration Practices Office.
• Increasing awareness of skilled trades by expanding outreach with industry.
• Increasing collaboration with industry and other labour market partners to determine future workforce requirements and awareness of job possibilities in the skilled trades.