Trades People Shortage

[drstrangelove]

Another problem is the limited number of apprentice positions that are available. It's done under the guise that a trained person can only oversee a very limited number of trainees, probably the real reason is the old desire to keep the number of skilled tradespeople relatively low to keep the wages up.

The length of the apprenticeship is probably too long. It takes at least 5 years to become an electrician or plumber, but not sure why so long. I have rewired and replumbed entire houses, yes with permits and inspections, without any formal training and none have burned down or flooded. it's just not that hard to justify 5 years.

 

[Goodfellow]

We will need to bring in Mexicans and south Americans like we do for agriculture...

In the GTA, I have already observed an increase in this over the past 5 years. Big time. Many are excellent and legit, but not all.

 

[chrispalen]

A lot of waitresses have BA degree but can’t find jobs except waiting on tables. Some work as strippers. While plumbers are getting $75 and more an hour. Electricians cost more.

CP

 

[canada-man]

Most College Graduates Have Jobs Unrelated To Their Major

Most College Graduates Have Jobs Unrelated To Their Major (outsidethebeltway.com)

 

[whynot888]

I'm an Electrical contractor always hard finding good workers, even when u treat them well. They leave for .50 more...now they are going to recognize licenses over seas and give them a license when they get here....joke takes 5yrs for license and 8 for masters...now these guys can bring bullshit documents from thier country and get a license here with no Canadian experience...I know this because I hired one and he had his buddy back home pay someone for bullshit license from a corrupt county...use to be they did few years here before we let them write exam.
Be careful gents....these guys do not do things correctly they just take the money and run.
If your in a jam reach out...will see what I can do...if your one of the lovely ladies you will move to the front of the list

No kidding, they dont know jack about the CEC or NEC.
I've seen my share of dangerous wiring by these oversea cheaters.

 

[PAWGLVR11]

this has been an issue since the 1960s. canada welcomed immigrants with skilled trades with open arms.

the problem is that its a dying field since not many people want to get into it. women have little to no interest even with financial incentives. there has been a negative outlook on trades people since they work with their hands and dont have a university degree. all kinds of negative stereo types. most trades are dirty, dangerous, work in extreme temperature areas, long grueling work hours and conditions for pay that is less than a desk jockey in HR.

why would someone sign up for that when the incentives arent nearly as attractive as other opportunities?

Trades are a dying field lol
Who do you think worked steady through the entire pandemic your way out of touch. And I don’t know what trades people you know but your also wrong on the money aspect as well partner

 

[desert monk]

Trades can pay quite well. I've been making $160K-$170K consistently as journeyman pipefitter out west, working for a major corporation.

 

[Darts]

Not sure about now but saw quite a few newly arrived Russians and Ukrainians doing home renos and drains. Digging trenches is hard manual labor, especially in Winter when everything outside is frozen.

BTW: Met a dancer a few years ago and she said she is also an interior decorator and event planner.

 

[Darts]

Not sure about all the trades but my HVAC guy said getting parts and new furnaces is difficult because of supply chain problems.

 

[anon1]

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/why-universities-are-failing-to-prepare-students-for-the-job-market-1.6208196

 

[Goodoer]

Trades are where it's at. We're begging for them. Skipping University does not imply you're stupid.

Women could enter this market and kill it. For example: Drywall taper, Controls technician/electrician, painter, etc. There are certain labour oriented jobs that men may excel at better, but there is an entire other side that women could roll into and dominate. Having said that, women carpenters, bricklayers, machine operators are doing it.

Consulting is also an option... My favourite Engineers (Structural, Civil, etc.) are all women. Kick ass people, great team members, they know their shit.

The little girls of Ontario are needed. Start the encouragement now!

 

[disaster_artist]

women dont want trade jobs typically

That's because trades are primarily marketed to men. Very rarely do you have those recruiting in trades reach out to women.

as a man you are expected to lift 100 lbs. a woman is not expected to lift the same 100lbs since she is more than likely physically unable to do so by herself. however men and women will get the same wages but not be required to do the same work. this would create resentment which is reasonable.

There are a ton of jobs in the trades that don't require that much physical strength. Machine operators are one. Even electricians and plumbers often don't have to do much heavy lifting. They have bins on carts for anything big and clunky. Even in intense outdoor construction fields, I know guys working in trades who are under 5'5" weighing less than 130lbs.

 

[jerbear15]

A lot of waitresses have BA degree but can’t find jobs except waiting on tables. Some work as strippers. While plumbers are getting $75 and more an hour. Electricians cost more.

CP

The hourly rate of pay for most union trades people is 46 hr plus benefits, 10 percent vacation pay and pension. Fireman's and trades on certain jobs make more. So 100k plus a year.

 

[james t kirk]

The social engineers will argue that it is "unfair" to ask a woman to lift 100 lbs.

Yeah, try to get a male unionized (local 183) labourer to lift 100 pounds and see just how far you get.

He will tell you he needs a telehandler or else he will have the union file a grievance on your ass.

 

[jimieboe]

Trades are a dying field lol
Who do you think worked steady through the entire pandemic your way out of touch. And I don’t know what trades people you know but your also wrong on the money aspect as well partner

This is very true but not all sectors, we are commercial and data centers contractors...that was great till 3 months ago came to a major slow down...and now material issues and labour holding things up..if they continue to let ppl work from home commercial work will die, no more offices to build renovate...residential is crazy...not fan of it but had to get back to it to keep guys working.

 

[Darts]

Not every manual job requires lifting 100 lbs but some do. I saw with my own eyes my roofer put two bundles of shingles on his shoulder and carry them up a ladder to the roof. I think fire people are also require to carry human bodies when the need arises and many human bodies weigh 100 lbs or more.

BTW: When I played university hockey we sometime shared the ice with the figure skaters. We saw the male skaters lift their female partners up above their head. The hockey players thought they could do the same. Some could, several couldn't.

 

[angrymime666]

That's because trades are primarily marketed to men. Very rarely do you have those recruiting in trades reach out to women.


There are a ton of jobs in the trades that don't require that much physical strength. Machine operators are one. Even electricians and plumbers often don't have to do much heavy lifting. They have bins on carts for anything big and clunky. Even in intense outdoor construction fields, I know guys working in trades who are under 5'5" weighing less than 130lbs.

the government offers extra funding specifically to women to enter trades. trades are typically marketed to those with lower IQ. I have worked in the school system and teachers typically steer those with less then average abilities into trades, which is foolish considering the mathematics and problem solving skills that are needed.

there are trades that require little physical effort but that is just one example of many. machine operators are usually in a loud and dirty environment. plumbing is a back breaking job. breaking up concrete and digging a trench lifting a toilet into place, extremely uncomfortable and awkward working conditions. electricians work at heights, in various environments, with high voltage. a man typically is 30-50% physically stronger than a woman.

women choose specific job paths, trades is not one of them. summing it up to men treat woman in trades like crap and thats the reason why there is so few women in trades does not look at the many other reasons why women dont want to work in trades. to say its just men hating women is a narrow view of a much more multi varied reason.

 

[angrymime666]

Trades are a dying field lol
Who do you think worked steady through the entire pandemic your way out of touch. And I don’t know what trades people you know but your also wrong on the money aspect as well partner

manufacturing left to the US. machining was huge previously. if people are not wanting to work in trades and they cannot meet employment demands I would consider that a slow death.

 

[Darts]

My RMT who works with her hands said that it is a very physically taxing job. She is always bending over and that is hard on the back.

BTW: One job that I would like to do is Brazilian waxing but only on women.

 

[angrymime666]

Your comment about pay is comical. You think a desk jockey makes more than a licensed electrician, plumber, finish carpenter etc?

an hr cubicle worker starts around 80k. a tradesman who is employed, and who has regular work can bring in 25-40 per hour. the problem is that work is not always consistent depending on the environment

if you are comparing a company charging 100-200 per hour a trades person does not receive that same compensation.