Many more people in the skilled trades are retiring than are entering the system.
By 2020, it is estimated Canada could be short about one million workers due to an aging population and declining birth rates (Conference Board of Canada, 2000). The hardest-hit industries will be manufacturing, construction, petroleum production and transportation.
A Try a Trade interactive career fair will be held in North Battleford Wednesday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This event will promote careers in trades and apprenticeship to youth, parents and job-seekers. Invitations have been sent to schools in the region and anyone interested in exploring trade opportunities is able to attend this free event.
Each exhibitor will provide a hands-on activity at each booth that will demonstrate the trade they represent. From mining to hairdressing, participants will have a chance to get involved and experience these trades first hand.
For exhibitors, the reward is great. They will market their business, cultivate future employees and get a chance to demonstrate their trade to at least 600 students along with the general public.
As worldwide demand for skilled labour heats up, provincial governments are increasingly looking outside Canada's borders, competing with countries like Australia and Germany for desperately needed trades people, engineers and medical professionals (Rachel Mendelson, Huffington Post Canada, January 2012).
Mining is one of the fastest growing industries in Saskatchewan. The direct and indirect workforce in Saskatchewan will grow by 42 per cent in the next 10 years; and 15,000 new employees will be needed in the Saskatchewan mining industry to meet replacement needs as well as fill new positions (Sask. Mining Association May 2011).
High demand occupations in the Saskatchewan mining industry include trades people, (millwrights, electricians, heavy equipment mechanics, mechanics, welders, pipefitters, steam engineers) miners, supervisors, heavy equipment operators, plant/mill operators, administrative services, engineers, technologists (environmental, instrumentation, laboratory) and geologists (Sask. Mining Association May 2011).
With the shortage of welders, pipe fitters and other high-demand workers likely to get worse, unions, construction contractors and other businesses are trying to determine how to attract more young people to those fields. Different organizations are trying to show youth they have many options for future careers.
Although wages within trades and regions vary, many different trades provide earnings above the national average. Trades people can earn from $12 to $35 an hour plus benefits, with additional opportunities available to earn even more, depending on the trade, position, location and overtime. For example, an instrument technician working in Saskatchewan, who installs, maintains, and repairs the control and metering systems used in commercial and industrial processing, according to Saskatchewan Job Futures, has an estimated average annual wage of $82,400.
This Try a Trade initiative is hosted by North West Career Development Partnership, Service Canada, Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services and Skills Canada.
