|
Two in five Canadians consider a career in the trades -- less than one in seven pursue one
Editorial by Christian Saint Cyr
National Director / Canadian Job Development Network
.
Careers in the trades and apprenticeship provide a pathway to career and employment success and all too often they are lost to the arena of job development.
.
Trades careers struggle with a number of unique features that limit the job development opportunities. Positions are often term and limited to specific projects, which makes it hard to to negotiate a long-term employment arrangement.
.
The bigger challenge is that many construction employers don't want to even discuss wage subsidy or other supports as they are more interested in getting suitable candidates than having to jump through any other hoops. This puts significant limitations on creating employment opportunities for new Canadians, youth and certainly those with disabilities.
.
If we look into the facts, we come to realize that many early job seekers (youth or immigrants for example) start off with a strong interest in the trades and end up pursuing other opportunities.
.
Recently, a new study titled, 'Measuring Up The Trades' revealed 40 per cent of Canadians have considered a career in skilled trades, yet only 13 per cent currently work in the field.
.
Another 52 per cent think more highly of the trades now than they did a few years ago, while 80 per cent believe there are more options for employment than before.
.
The study joins a growing body of research suggesting that previously-held stereotypes towards these careers are on their way out – 42 per cent surveyed would choose the skilled trades as a career if they could turn back the clock, and 78 per cent would encourage their children or others to consider a career in the trades.
.
“In many circles, the trades are the talk of the town,” says Stanley Owah, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Classic Fire + Life Safety. “People are clearly interested in the field, but not enough have taken the plunge. I can tell you from first-hand experience that the benefits are tremendous. It is worth jumping in!”
.
Classic Fire + Life Safety, the funder of the study, plans to commission this research on a regular basis to help both the company and the industry address the workforce shortages needed to meet rising demand. By collaborating with industry partners and trades education programs, the company aims to encourage more individuals to pursue careers in the skilled trades. .
Honour the Work, is a rapidly growing non-profit organization dedicated to promoting careers in the skilled trades. They agree we are in the early days of seeing a significant shift in perception of skilled trades careers that is increasingly being seen across various sectors of Canadian society – from colleges and universities to all levels of government and right down to individual families.
.
“Canadians are realizing that these careers are not only in high demand, but also financially lucrative and directly correlated to our collective wellbeing through areas such as housing, clean energy and public infrastructure,” says Angela Coldwell, Founder of Honour the Work. “Educators, for their part, are starting to introduce the skilled trades at an earlier stage, peaking of course at high school. The old thinking was that post-secondary education meant attending college or university. But that’s not the whole picture.
.
Apprenticeship is a growing third form of post-secondary education leading to great STEAM careers for Canadians who learn and work their head and hands, simultaneously.”
.
The study reveals that the gap in perceptions versus reality is narrowing. An estimated 62 per cent of Canadians say they believe the pay is good, for example, while 47 per cent express a belief that skilled trades jobs are stable and 45 per cent believe it provides opportunity for small business development.
.
Moving forward, if interest in trades occupations continues to grow, new opportunities emerge.
.
While short-term training, typically 6 to 12 months, provides limited employment and salary options, typically only a few dollars more than minimum wage, short-term training that leads to apprenticeship and ultimately a Red Seal Certificate can provide lucrative, sustainable career opportunities.
.
From a job development perspective -- there are two pathways to consider. One is to assist in promoting trades occupations to those for whom the job opportunities would be suitable and a good personal fit. While I don't believe everyone is suited to careers in construction or other trades, this data would suggest that as many as two in five might be a good fit.
.
The other pathway is the employer path. Construction employers often miss our community marketing strategy as they often have a low profile in the community.
.
Scouring community business licenses, development permits and construction news can be a great approach to connecting with these employers.
.
When you are marketing clients to local employers, keep three elements in mind:
- Availability and Readiness to Work;
- Necessary Skills and Short-Term Training; and
- Transferable Skills.
.
Financial incentives and other workplace supports will have less impact than being able to meet immediate employment needs.
.
We’ll be discussing the best approach to marketing to construction employers at our #MotivatingMondays meeting of the Canadian Job Development Network, Monday Nov. 25th at 8:30am Pacific; 9:30am Mountain; 10:30am Central; 11:30am Eastern; 12:30pm Atlantic and at 1pm in Newfoundland.
.
On the morning of Monday November 25th, 'Click this Link' to join the session LIVE.
| 
