).Recent immigrants often lack social networks with employers and friends, because they may not have been living in Canada long enough to establish such contacts. This circumstance may act as a barrier to employment and apprentice sponsorship opportunities (CREHS & Skills for Change, 2001; ).
As noted elsewhere, it is perceived that a great many Canadian-born apprentices find employers through family or social networks that can connect them with the trades; these networks have been formed over the course of many years, if not generations. In addition, employers and unions may often hire apprentices through either traditional sources for training candidates or the use of informal word of mouth (CLFDB, 1995). Immigrants who find themselves outside of these networks may encounter problems in finding employers to take them on as apprentices.
Persons with disabilities need help in building bridges with potential employers in order to manage the transition from training (or education) to work.
Key informants spoke of school/career counsellors
as having little knowledge about the special workplace-adaptation needs of persons with disabilities, about available resources, and about adaptation possibilities. Apprenticeship is not well promoted to youth with disabilities and, therefore, it is not even considered an option (). One key informant offered the following barriers to trades careers among persons with disabilities (
):
At the same time, service providers in the disabilities employment sector often have little knowledge of the apprenticeship system and, more generally, of the trades (WoodLINKS, 2002). These providers may also not understand the skills required for certain occupations or the types of support employers require to cover the costs of workplace accommodations and wage subsidies.
