N.S. needs tradespeople, yet NSCC has long waitlists for programs. What gives?

As Nova Scotia continues to address the growing need for skilled trades workers, one of the pathways to these jobs – training through the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) – is facing challenges due to long waitlists. The majority of trades and transportation programs at NSCC, which include fields such as aircraft and automotive work, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and welding, have waitlists that can extend for years for some students. These waitlists exist at all NSCC campuses across the province.

The programs with the longest waitlists, electrical construction and industrial and building systems technology (HVAC and refrigeration), have a two-year wait for entry. For the electrical construction program starting this fall, there are 750 new and waitlisted applicants for 250 seats. Similarly, the building systems technology program has 223 new and waitlisted applications for only 18 available seats.

Andrew Lafford, the vice-president academic at NSCC, acknowledged the challenges and stated that the college is working diligently to address the gap between industry demands and student enrolment. The need for skilled trades workers in Nova Scotia is significant, with a projected requirement of 15,000 workers by 2034, according to a report by BuildForce Canada. The construction sector is expected to see growth driven by new housing, renovations, and other building projects.

However, the immediate shortages of skilled workers are already impacting projects, with some facing delays or being put on hold due to the lack of available workers. Lafford emphasized that while the college is making efforts to increase accessibility and expedite education through accelerated programs and additional seats, there is a need to balance the supply of graduates with the demand in the job market.

In addition to NSCC programs, there are alternative pathways to enter the trades, such as direct entry and enhanced direct entry programs offered by organizations like the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council. These programs provide opportunities for individuals to connect with employers and begin their apprenticeship journey. Despite the high demand for these programs, individuals interested in pursuing a career in the trades can reach out to the sector council for assistance.

The provincial government is also taking steps to address the skilled trades shortage, including initiatives to recruit and retain workers, open more seats in high-demand programs, and provide financial support for apprentices. Recently, the government announced a $10 million investment in the construction industry to create the Cape Breton Trades Exhibition Centre and support direct-entry apprenticeship programs.

As Nova Scotia strives to meet the growing demand for skilled trades workers, collaboration between industry leaders, training partners, and government agencies is crucial to ensure that individuals are trained for the trades needed now and in the future. By expanding access to training programs and aligning labor demand with training delivery, Nova Scotia can build a strong workforce to support the construction industry and other sectors reliant on skilled trades professionals.