Quit your desk job to work in skilled trades? We want to hear from you
Making the transition from an office job to the skilled trades is no easy feat, but for those who do, it can prove to be a rewarding career change.
A 2024 report by Statistics Canada states that labour organizations, think tanks, and government agencies have been sounding the alarm on potential shortages in skilled trades. For example, with nearly 250,000 construction workers set to retire by 2032, it could create a shortfall of over 61,000 workers.
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“Recent data from Statistics Canada indicate that while Canada leads the G7 as the most educated workforce because of its large share of college and university graduates, the number of working-age (25 to 64 years) apprenticeship certificate holders has stagnated or fallen in critical fields, such as construction, mechanic and repair technologies, and precision production,” states the report.
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly hasn’t helped. Since then, trade registrations and certifications remain low, raising concerns about potential labour shortages in skilled trades. However, even before the pandemic, Canada was already seeing a shortage of hairstylists and barbers, cooks, construction millwrights, and industrial mechanics.
In 2024, the average hourly wage for a construction worker was $25, with a high of $38 per hour. And on average, the highest hourly pay for a construction worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, and Ontario was $40.
According to Job Bank, 73 per cent of construction workers received at least one type of non-wage benefit.
These can include employer-sponsored pension plans, dental, medical, and life insurance plans, leave entitlements (maternity, parental, or caregiver leave), sick days and vacation days, and payroll taxes, such as employer contributions to the Employment Insurance program and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP).
If you’re a Canadian who has made the switch from a 9-to-5 office job, we’d like to hear from you for a possible story. Email us at trending@dailyhive.com