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Central Vancouver Island: Think Trades & Technology

Carpenters

What’s It Like?

Working with all kinds of wood and wood substitutes, carpenters build and repair structures and the things that go in them. They build everything from frames to forms, floors, walls, stairs, doors, roofs. You name it, carpenters build it.

Most carpenters are required to read and interpret plans in order to understand what they are to build. They must take accurate measurements, have good math skills and make a commitment to working safely.

Carpenter is a nationally designated trade under the Inter-provincial Red Seal program. With Red Seal certification, one can work as a carpenter anywhere in Canada.

Many carpenters in the central Vancouver Island region work for contractors, construction companies and various maintenance departments while others are self-employed. They work in new home building and renovation, heavy industrial, and commercial and institutional construction sectors.

Carpenters may:

• Construct forms and assemble structures
  
• Install windows, doors, moldings and stairs
  
• Frame residential and commercial buildings
  
• Maintain wooden structures in mills, mines or hospitals
  
• Renovate buildings
  
• Finish the inside and outside of buildings
  
• Work with architects, project managers, designers and other trades to complete projects

Money & Benefits

Wages

Construction, Maintenance and Allied Workers (CMAW)

As of May 1, 2007 - Commercial and Institutional Projects

Designation		Percentage	Hourly Rate
Pre-Apprentice		50 %	$13.79
Apprentice	1st Term	55%	$15.16
	2nd term	65%	$17.92
	3rd Term	80%	$22.06
	4th Term	90%	$24.81
Journeyperson		100%	$27.57
Foreman		115%	$31.71

Benefits

Union members benefit through health and welfare plans and pension plans. The goal of the health and welfare plans is to ensure that members have access to extended health care, medications, optical services, dental services and life insurance protection when and they need it. The pension plans ensure that member and employer contributions to retirement plans are administered in a responsible manner so that members will be able to enjoy a financially secure retirement.

Non-Union Rates

With the current boom in the construction industry and associated skill shortages, local labour market research suggests it is an employee’s market. For this reason, it is not uncommon for non-union companies to match union rates and benefits in order to attract and maintain good employees.

Why We're Betting On This

• Projected skills shortages as baby boomers retire
• There is a shortage of properly certified workers to fill the gaps
• Due to the construction boom, skilled tradespeople are in particular demand
• 55,000 construction positions being created over the next three years in BC and up to 7,000 of these positions are on Vancouver Island
• Local labour market research supports the current demand for trained carpenters in the central Vancouver Island region

Interested? Where To Start

There are three ways you can work as a carpenter in B.C. You can hire yourself and work as a self-employed contractor, you can demonstrate to an employer that you are a competent carpenter or you can register as an apprentice to become a certified journeyman. Hiring is done through union halls or through direct contact with potential employers. Apprentice carpenters are often chosen from the ranks of the company's current employees, such as construction labourers. With experience, apprentice carpenters can advance to supervisory positions or start their own business.

Educational Requirements – Apprenticeship

The carpenter apprenticeship requires a total of 5,000 hours on the job and 720 hours in school, over four years. The educational training takes place in four six-week periods. There are three ways to enter into apprenticeship:

1. Direct Entry to the Job

Through direct entry, you find a job with an employer who is willing to participate in the apprenticeship program. Both you and the employer must register in the program. See the Industry Training Authority (ITA) website to find out more and download registration forms.  Go to www.itabc

2. Entry-Level Training at a College or Institute

You can take Entry-level Trades Training (ELTT) at a post-secondary institution.  This will give you a good foundation in carpentry skills and help you make industry contacts.  A grade 12 education is preferred but pre-requisites may vary from institution to institution.

3. CTC - Nanaimo-Ladysmith Career Technical Centre

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Career Technical Centre (CTC) offers a unique opportunity to students in School District #68.  The CTC enables students to begin post-secondary (university/college) trades and technical programs during their grade 11 and 12 high school years.

For more information on CTC, visit www.virctc.com

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