Trades

Yes. Construction needs highly-skilled and trained professionals. The high level of skills can be surprising. Did you know that a carpenter uses math on a daily basis, that a heavy equipment operator needs computer skills, or that a welder has to understand both chemistry and metallurgy? Construction uses high-tech equipment and needs adaptable people to work on a huge variety of projects. As a skilled construction worker you could be involved in building homes, schools, shopping centres or industrial plants. You could also work on civil engineering projects such as building highways, dams and bridges or installing water, sewer and communications systems.

No. You can choose a construction career that suits you. If you enjoy travel, being outdoors and working flexible hours, a career in industrial construction may be the answer. Heavy industrial construction projects are often located in remote areas where mines, pipelines or petroleum plants are being developed. Workers on these projects travel to and live in new parts of the country and are sometimes away from home for long periods of time. If you have a family or prefer to stay in one location, there are plenty of career choices that will let you do that. If you choose a career in home building and renovation or in commercial construction, you can find long-term employment with a large company.

Yes. The need for skilled construction workers has increased steadily for the last ten years, even when Canada’s economy hit a recession. The demand for skilled construction workers is strong and will increase. According to statistics, the average construction worker is in his early 40s. It is expected many workers will be reaching retirement age in the next decade and job opportunities for new construction workers will grow in every region of the country.

There are tens of trades in the construction industry and each has its own annual salary. Income depends on the sector worked in and the nature of your contract. In general, you can expect to earn as much as, or more than, someone with a university degree. It also costs less to learn construction skills than to earn a university degree and, if you enter an apprenticeship program, you can earn while you learn.

Yes. Many construction workers receive statutory holiday and vacation pay. Depending on your contract, you may also receive benefits such as group insurance for health, dental and vision care, retirement packages and training benefits worth up to 30% of your annual salary. If you are self-employed, you may have to take care of your own benefits.

No. If you start out working as a general labourer without a high school diploma, you may be able to learn on the job and advance to more senior positions through experience and additional training. If you enrol in a college or university program, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent. In general, apprenticeship programs require that you have a Grade 12 education or equivalent while other ones require at least a Grade 10 education, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and literacy.

Contact us to speak to one of our specialists. We can assess whether you meet the entry requirements, and help you study to gain any credentials you need.

Yes. Most women in construction say it’s a rewarding career. You must also be prepared for a challenge: most workers are men. The number of women in construction is increasing and workplace environments are changing as a result. Women are also more prepared for construction careers than in the past thanks to organizations that provide appropriate training.

An apprenticeship is a way to learn trade skills while you work and earn good wages. It combines hands-on training in a classroom/workshop setting with on-the-job experience that lets you earn while you learn. An apprenticeship program leads to professional certification as a journey/person.

In most apprenticeship programs you’ll earn a percentage of what a journey/person would earn and your earnings will increase each year until you’re certified. Wages, terms and conditions are usually determined by the province of Ontario regulations, labour organization agreements and/or a combination of both.

Generally, it can take from one to five years to complete your program and become a certified journey/person. You’ll spend most of that time learning on-the-job. Each year you’ll also spend several weeks studying in a classroom or shop setting.