New Incentive Program for Journeypersons Mentoring Apprentices in Nova Scotia

August 9, 2024

A new financial incentive in Nova Scotia recognizes the vital role certified trades professionals have in supporting and training apprentices.

The Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program provides up to $2,500 to journeypersons actively mentoring apprentices. The goal of the new program is to increase the number of apprentices becoming certified journeypersons.

“Journeypersons are the primary trainers within the apprenticeship program and play a vital role in supporting and developing the skills and knowledge of apprentices,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “This program is a part of how we are building capacity to support apprentices to become certified in the skilled trades and to be successful in the workforce.”

Employers will be contacted via email by the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency throughout August and asked to nominate up to five journeypersons for every apprentice who progressed to the next level of their apprenticeship between August 1 and July 31 each year. For each level an apprentice progresses, $2,500 will be distributed equally among the eligible journeypersons.

Eligible journeypersons will be supported through online mentorship training that will include basic communication skills, interactive elements, scenarios, videos and quizzes.

“This first-of-its-kind program will encourage more journeypersons to take an active role in mentoring apprentices. By recognizing the value of effective mentoring in the skilled trades and journeypersons’ vital role in the apprenticeship system, we will be better positioned to meet the province’s significant labour demands in the skilled trades,” commented Michelle Bussey, CEO, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

This program, administered by the agency, is part of the government’s plan to accelerate the growth of the skilled trades in Nova Scotia.

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Quick Facts:

• in October 2023, the Province announced an investment of $100 million over three years to support actions to accelerate skilled trades in Nova Scotia
• up to 5,000 new apprentices will be added to the system in the next three years, increasing the number of journeypersons and trades qualifiers taking on apprentices by 1,000 per year and increasing the retention rate to certification of apprentices to 60 per cent from 43 per cent within five years
• 2,544 new apprentices were registered and began their training in skilled trades in 2023
• since 2014, the number of apprentices has increased by 51 per cent (8,960 apprentices in 2023-2024 compared with 5,923 in 2014-15)

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