Industry Activities

The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Board works with industry on a variety of initiatives;

Youth Decision Survey

Since 2000, every four years, the Apprenticeship Board of Nova Scotia has conducted a Youth Decision Survey.  This survey is administered to youth, parents, teachers and guidance counselors to determine whether or not youth are actually learning more about career options that are available to them in the trades and apprenticeship training. This year, 18 high schools in eight school boards across the province participated in the study. Surveys were administered to teachers and students in grades 10 through 12 and each participating student was given a survey to bring home to their parent or guardian to complete. The surveys were administered and collected between October – December 2009 and the results of the survey are expected to be tabulated and a report prepared by August 2010. A copy of the final report will be distributed to regional school boards, the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Board, Department of Labour and Advanced Education and the Department of Education.

Return on Training Investment

What are the benefits of apprenticeship training for an employer? Can a financial return be calculated? Does the investment support an employer’s bottom line? These are the main research questions that prompted the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) to complete this study. To answer these questions, CAF asked almost 1,000 employers in 16 different trades in a variety of sectors to complete a survey on the costs and benefits of apprenticeship training. The results show that there is a positive return for those employers who invest in apprenticeship training.

Update on Automotive Service Technician Survey

The Nova Scotia Automotive Human Resource Sector Council (AHRSC) is the lead agency for human resources development in the automotive service and repair industry in Nova Scotia. In 2008, the AHRSC was contracted by the Apprenticeship Board to research industry's interest and need to designate the Automotive Transmission Technician trade as an independent trade.  A survey was conducted and a final report has been created.

New Trade Applications

  • On January 26, 2010 the Nova Scotia Boat Builders Association submitted an application to designate Marine Services Technician as a trade in Nova Scotia

Applications for Compulsory Certification

  • On January 12, 2010 the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 409 and Local 56 submitted an application to specify the Sheet Metal trade as compulsory certified in Nova Scotia
  • The Board has received an application on behalf of the Professional Carpentry Guild of Nova Scotia to recommend the carpentry trade as compulsory certified in Nova Scotia, letters of support from the industry have been received and will be brought before the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Board in 2011.