Wanted! Skilled Tradespeople in Canada – It’s Where the Opportunities Are

Canada has a dilemma.

Skilled tradespeople are aging, and Canada needs to encourage more young people into the trades.  Careers in trades can be rewarding for many. More effort in marketing careers in trades needs to be put forth by trade associations, unions and institutions that offer training for trades, supported by government and even the companies that employ them. And it can even start before that.  More effort also needs to be put forth while young women and men are still in high school, letting them know the job opportunities that await skilled tradespeople in Canada in the coming decade.

According to a recent study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), there’s a shortage of skilled tradespeople in Canada. The study found that although there are 1.2 million jobs available in the skilled trades, only 20% of them are being filled. This is due in part to a decline in apprenticeship programs over the last decade or so – they’re down by approximately 50%.

But this doesn’t have to be the case! All the aforementioned groups can encourage more young people into careers in the skilled trades through increased job opportunities, funding initiatives, better training programs and more flexible education options.

The image below provided by Surepoint Group of Calgary illustrates the problem with skilled trades professionals in Canada. The average age continues to get higher and higher.

According to Buildforce Canada, the industry needs to recruit 309,000 new construction workers alone over the next decade (2021 to 2030), driven predominantly by the expected retirement of 259,100 workers (22% of the current labour force).

Furthermore, an average of around 75,000 new apprentices will need to be hired per year in the next five years to meet the demand for skilled journeypersons in Red Seal trades.

Add to the mix a decline in apprentice enrollment across the board for skilled trades in general. Over the next five years, 256,000 new apprentice recruits are needed to keep pace with demand, according to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum.

Companies like Surepoint Group of Calgary, Alberta have recognized this problem for a while and are working on ways to educate people that there are plenty of great career opportunities in the trades. “Most people today don’t realize how much we rely on tradespeople until they need them,” says Martin Socha of Surepoint Group , “and as tradespeople retire over the next decade and demand increases, the shortage is only going to get worse.”

With the demand for tradespeople showing no signs of waning, more steps are being taken to ensure the construction and other industries has the help it needs. Here are a few highlights:

• Level Up! is a series of career fairs organized by the Ontario government. They will highlight 144 skilled trades and target students in Grades 7 to 12 through interactive activities and presentations from tradespeople and local employers.
• In September, 2022, the British Columbia Construction Association launched Building Builders, a program that connects under- and unemployed workers with experienced mentors. It will run for three years and will support 300 mentees through a 12-month mentorship period. The aim is to help newcomers enter the industry.
• Alberta announced a campaign last October to raise $15-million in scholarship funds that will support students through BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers.
• Beginning in 2023, the federal government is investing up to $55-million over five years under its Stream 2 (Innovation in Apprenticeship) of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). It will help fund projects that seek to improve the participation of apprentices in Red Seal trades who are women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized individuals.
• In 2023, the Government of Canada is also set to start spending up to $43.5-million to support projects that aim to recruit and retain female apprentices under the Women in Skilled Trades Initiative. It covers 39 Red Seal trades, mainly those found in construction and manufacturing.

SUREPOINT GROUP LOVES TRADESPEOPLE AND WE NEED THEM!

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