A new Statistics Canada study released on August 26, 2026 shows that immigrants who entered Canada during childhood and later registered in apprenticeship programs were less likely than Canadian-born apprentices to obtain trade certification. The research also found earnings differences among male journeypersons before and after certification.
The findings are especially relevant at a time when Canada is encouraging more workers to enter skilled trades. They show that increasing apprenticeship participation is only one part of the challenge; completion and certification outcomes also matter.
What the Study Shows
| Measure | Finding |
|---|---|
| Population studied | Registered apprentices, including childhood immigrants and Canadian-born apprentices |
| Certification gap | Childhood immigrants were about 3 to 5 percentage points less likely to obtain certification |
| Male earnings gap | About 7% to 10% lower in adjusted comparisons before, at and after certification |
| Release date | August 26, 2026 |
Who counts as a childhood immigrant?
In this research, childhood immigrants are people who were admitted to Canada before age 18. The study compares apprenticeship outcomes for this group with those of Canadian-born apprentices.
This is different from studying adults who immigrated after building a career abroad. Childhood immigrants often complete much of their schooling in Canada, which makes the certification gap particularly important for understanding barriers inside the Canadian training system.
Why trade certification matters
Apprenticeships combine paid workplace experience with technical training. In many trades, completing an apprenticeship and obtaining certification can improve access to jobs, higher wages and mobility between employers or provinces.
For workers entering regulated or Red Seal trades, certification can be especially valuable because it shows that the worker has met recognized occupational standards.
Certification rates were lower for childhood immigrants
Statistics Canada found that childhood immigrants were about 3 to 5 percentage points less likely to obtain trade certification than Canadian-born apprentices, even after accounting for several measurable differences.
A percentage-point gap is not the same as a percentage decrease. If one group had a certification rate of 60% and another had 55%, that would be a five-percentage-point difference.
Male journeyperson earnings were also lower
The study found that male childhood immigrant journeypersons earned about 7% to 10% less in adjusted comparisons before, at and after certification.
The study does not mean every immigrant tradesperson earns less than every Canadian-born worker. The result describes average differences across the research population after controlling for several observable characteristics.
What may contribute to the gap?
The research examines several factors that can affect apprenticeship outcomes, including income, region, trade, age and previous credits. Some of the differences narrow after adjustments, but a gap remains.
Possible barriers can include weaker access to professional networks, differences in employer sponsorship, interruptions in training, financial pressures and regional labour-market conditions. The study itself should be used carefully and does not prove that one single factor explains the entire difference.
Why this matters for Canada’s skilled-trades strategy
Canada continues to promote skilled trades because many construction, industrial and technical occupations face replacement demand and labour shortages. Governments also invest in apprenticeship training and supports intended to help more people complete certification.
If immigrant apprentices are entering programs but completing at lower rates, workforce policy needs to consider the full pathway from registration to certification.
People looking for current skilled-trade jobs can use Canadanship’s Jobs section, while temporary work and employment-rule guidance is available under Work.
What prospective apprentices should check
- Whether the trade is compulsory or voluntary in the province.
- How employer sponsorship works.
- How many technical-training periods are required.
- Whether previous education or work experience can be credited.
- What certification exam is required.
- Whether the trade has Red Seal endorsement.
Apprenticeship is not the same in every province
Apprenticeship systems are administered primarily by provinces and territories, so rules can differ. Registration, required hours, classroom training and certification processes can vary by occupation and jurisdiction.
Workers should therefore verify requirements with the apprenticeship authority in the province where they intend to work.
What newcomers should not assume
Immigration status alone does not determine whether someone can enter or complete an apprenticeship. A person may still need an employer sponsor, valid work authorization, provincial registration and occupational qualifications.
Likewise, foreign trade experience may be useful but does not always replace Canadian apprenticeship or certification requirements.
Why earnings can differ even after certification
Certification can improve labour-market outcomes, but earnings still depend on trade, region, employer, unionization, experience and hours worked. Some trades also have stronger demand than others.
This means certification should be seen as an important credential, not as a guarantee of a particular salary.
What students and young workers can learn
Students interested in trades should compare career pathways before choosing a program. A college certificate that is not connected to an apprenticeship system may lead to a different outcome than a registered apprenticeship.
For younger workers, early exposure through co-op, pre-apprenticeship or employer training can help clarify whether a trade is a good fit.
What the study does not prove
- It does not show that all immigrant apprentices face the same barriers.
- It does not mean Canadian-born apprentices always complete certification.
- It does not prove discrimination is the only cause of the gap.
- It does not mean certification guarantees equal earnings in every trade.
What workers can do now
Anyone considering a trade can begin by identifying the exact occupation, checking provincial apprenticeship rules and reviewing employer demand. Where certification is required, workers should plan for the full pathway rather than focusing only on the first registration step.
Canadanship’s Jobs and Work sections can help readers follow current vacancies and worker-related updates.
Registration is only the first stage of apprenticeship
Entering an apprenticeship program does not mean certification is automatic. Apprentices generally need to complete required workplace hours, technical training and assessments before they can receive a provincial or territorial trade certificate. Interruptions in employment can delay progress because much of the learning happens with an employer.
That makes employer continuity especially important. An apprentice who loses a sponsor may need to find another employer willing to continue the training relationship before accumulating the remaining required experience.
Red Seal can improve mobility in designated trades
The Red Seal Program creates common interprovincial standards for many skilled trades. A worker who earns the Red Seal endorsement in a designated trade can generally demonstrate that they have met the national standard for that occupation.
Not every trade is a Red Seal trade and certification rules remain provincial or territorial. Workers should check the official apprenticeship authority in the jurisdiction where they plan to train and work.
Foreign credentials and Canadian apprenticeship are different issues
Some newcomers arrive with years of trade experience from another country. Provinces may have processes to assess prior experience or allow experienced workers to challenge certification requirements, but the process varies by occupation and jurisdiction.
Childhood immigrants in the Statistics Canada study are a different group because many arrived before adulthood. The study therefore provides insight into whether gaps can persist even among immigrants who spend much of their education and early life in Canada.
Why employer sponsorship can shape completion
Apprenticeship systems depend heavily on employers because apprentices need supervised workplace training. If employers are reluctant to take on apprentices, if hours are inconsistent, or if economic downturns reduce construction and industrial activity, apprentices can take longer to complete.
This means governments can encourage apprenticeship registration, but completion also depends on sufficient workplace opportunities.
Questions a future apprentice should ask an employer
- Will the employer formally register and sponsor the apprenticeship?
- Which journeyperson will supervise the work?
- Will the apprentice be released for technical training when required?
- How will completed hours be recorded?
- Does the employer regularly support apprentices through certification?
- What happens if work slows down before the apprenticeship is complete?
Why the earnings result needs context
Trade earnings can vary widely. Industrial trades, construction trades, service trades and automotive occupations can have very different wage structures. Overtime, union agreements, remote work and project-based employment can also affect annual earnings.
For that reason, the Statistics Canada result is most useful as evidence of a broader gap, not as a salary estimate for any individual apprentice or trade.
Official Sources and What They Confirm
| Official source | Details confirmed |
|---|---|
| Statistics Canada – The Daily, August 26, 2026 | Release date and headline findings on immigrant apprenticeship certification and earnings outcomes. |
| Statistics Canada – Labour and apprenticeship data resources | Official apprenticeship and labour-market statistical context. |
Last verified August 26, 2026. The study reports average differences and should not be used to predict an individual’s certification or earnings outcome.