The skilled trades in Ontario include more than 140 different occupations, many of which are in high demand and offer high incomes. If you’re not sure what career path to follow, you can learn more about what the skilled trades have to offer for your future (https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/).
Here are five simple reasons why the skilled trades might suit you:
- Experiential learning
Many students prefer to learn by doing, rather than by sitting in classroom lectures. Most skilled trades involve working with your hands to create, build, fix and solve problems. These activities require specialized skills and experience best gained through learning on the job.
The training involved does include some classroom learning, but much more of an apprentice’s time is spent learning while working. Some students start with a dedicated trades college program, which may even reduce the length of the working apprenticeship period that follows it; others start by registering as an apprentice and working for a year or so, then cycling through short classroom instruction periods over the course of the apprenticeship. Depending on the trade, an apprenticeship may take two to five years to complete.
- Access to apprenticeship
Apprenticeships require learners to be reliable, resourceful, safety-conscious and hard-working. They must be willing to follow instructions carefully and try new ways of doing things, and must be prepared to take redirection and keep trying when their work is not yet up to standard. Apprenticeships do not usually require high grades in high school, nor do they require students to have previous experience in order to begin.
Many schools offer courses or programs that can get students started toward an apprenticeship before they even graduate from high school. There are also free pre-apprenticeship programs offered through various organizations throughout the province for those who want to be better prepared or want to test the waters before registering for an apprenticeship. The government of Ontario has resources available to help potential future apprentices learn about and start an apprenticeship (https://www.ontario.ca/page/start-apprenticeship#section-1), and also provides various levels of financial support for apprentices (https://www.ontario.ca/page/financial-supports-apprentices).
- Variety of career options
Over 140 trades are registered in Ontario. They are divided into four sectors — construction, industrial, motive power, and service trades — and each trade has its own learning and experience requirements in order to practice. The 23 trades that are designated “compulsory” require the passing of an exam to earn a Certificate of Qualification and become a registered tradesperson. Some trades also offer a national Red Seal exam for tradespeople to meet the highest standard and be recognized as a Red Seal tradesperson across all of Canada. With such a variety of possible options, the trades are a suitable career choice for many students.
- Getting paid while learning
An important benefit of entering the trades is that registered apprentices are paid for the work they do on the job during their apprenticeship. The apprentice pay rate will be lower than that of an experienced tradesperson (though still averaging $22.50/hour, according to Talent.com) and apprentices are not usually paid during their classroom learning periods, however most apprentices are able to complete their training without the debt that students in other post-secondary programs experience. And, again, the Ontario government does offer some forms of financial support for those undertaking an apprenticeship.
- Secure, well-paid jobs
Many tradespeople continue to work for the same employer that trained them during their apprenticeships, having by then achieved a valuable level of knowledge and experience. Unlike most other students, they may not need to go searching for their first real job after completing their program. And jobs in most trades are in great demand, with very good wages and opportunities for advancement, as labour shortages across the country continue to create significant need for specialized expertise. A career in the skilled trades is likely to satisfy with as much variety and/or stability as desired.
The skilled trades offer many avenues for those who see the benefits of hands-on learning and getting paid to train for a valuable career. Find out more about the skilled trades and apprenticeships in Ontario in Ready to Launch: Navigating the Transition from High School to Post-Secondary Life – A Guide for Ontario Students and Parents.