Alberta parents continue to favour university pathways for their children, though interest in skilled trades is present, according to a new questionnaire from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum.
The findings, based on responses from 1,011 parents, show 64% rank university as their top choice, compared to 18%t for apprenticeship and 16% for college.
Career stability was identified as the most important factor in decision-making at 61%, followed by happiness at 56% and access to a well-paying job at 55%. Cost-related concerns are also reflected in the data, with 48% of respondents citing tuition as a key consideration and 44% pointing to student debt.
Awareness of skilled trades pathways appears limited. The report indicates 37% of parents are unfamiliar with how apprenticeship works, while 42% say they do not have enough information about trades careers.
Perception data shows 52% of respondents view university as the “best” path after high school, compared to 27% for college and 21% for apprenticeship.
Interest in trades-related learning is reflected in earlier education stages, with 46% of parents supporting increased exposure to hands-on or technical learning in high school.
