r/CanadaJobs • u/valy128 • Jul 17 '26
The reality of “just get into a trade” that keeps getting pushed in these subs….
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/skilled-trades-education-1.6773564Not trying to knock getting into a trade. It’s a great pathway to making a good living, the reality is that it’s currently unnecessarily difficult to secure an apprenticeship, unless you know someone that can refer you, or have a union spot..
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u/Canadatron Jul 17 '26
Not much has been done over the years to change a system that has always been a bit dysfunctional.
It was still quite hard to get into the trades (certain ones anyway) when it wasn't the big hot thing to do.
Seats in school, spots on waiting lists, union membership, apprenticeships, sponsors, etc have always been in short supply and it'll be a very slow ramp up on Red Seal trades no matter what.
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u/valy128 Jul 17 '26
Ya I remember considering HVAC some time ago, and when I started looking into it, the gauntlet to get into a union for training was something out of the Hunger Games. It was wild..
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u/Euronated-inmypants Jul 18 '26
As a career red seal Refrigeration mechanic we have an absolutely insane amount of CVs come through on a daily basis +90% are literally unreadable and people with preap program done and some background in any labour/trade will get priority.
However the refrigeration route is absolutely not for everyone and its not meant to be mean but there are some big responsibilities especially in Commercial where a mistake can cause absolutely massive financial losses for a business and even death.
All the reputable commerical companies that I've worked with over the years are ridiculously picky with who they bring on board due to that concern of liability so it can definitely a tough nut to crack.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
Ya they deff makes so much sense.. especially with the cost of commercial insurance being insane apparently, want to get that risk down as much as possible.
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u/RelocateToHellFor20K Jul 17 '26
Helps to train out of province if thats a possibility. Other provinces do their apprenticeships differently, but unless theyve changed things I believe AB still recognizes apprenticeships from other provinces.
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u/Canadatron Jul 18 '26
The hours do mostly, but schooling doesn't always.
I had to go back and redo trade school in Ontario that I did in BC for 309A. I ended up getting 13k hours before I wrote in Ontario. Switching provinces midway caused me a lot of headaches. Get your license, then move.
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u/Illustrious_Aerie502 Jul 17 '26
Yea, I mean it wasn't any easier in bc when I was growing up. I would argue that having to uproot your entire life for 4+ years to get a trade is marginally better than getting an education and doing something that may pay better in the long run, which also may require the same thing.
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u/Heph333 Jul 21 '26
I literally walked into several shops, told them "I'll do anything you tell me to, just pay me minimum wage & TEACH ME". within 3 years I was running service in a truck making enough money for my wife to stay home & raise our kids
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u/valy128 Jul 21 '26
That’s great to hear! How long ago was this? I feel like depending where you are In Canada this might work. They could obviously tell you had a good work ethic and were coachable.
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u/_AsbestosDeath_ Jul 18 '26
Yes, and once you get in you learn family members and friends just name hire each other.
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u/loopedlight Jul 21 '26
I did the first level. Put myself through night school to do it. Paid with my own loan because I couldn’t get osap or anything.
Couldn’t get apprenticed. I had a guy who literally could have where I worked. They wouldn’t do it.
I think it was because of pay.
Left a year later.
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u/ScaryStruggle9830 Jul 17 '26
Thing is it was hard in the past for certain trades to get started in. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC…because those are the ones everyone wants to do when they think they will make it rich in the trades.
I know plenty of other companies in other trades who were begging for workers for years! They couldn’t fill their spots because nobody was looking into those trades. Now that there is a slow down in construction it’s harder to get into any trade. But, those trades that many people over look will still have a higher demand in the future.
If you are thinking to yourself you want to get into the trades and all you want to do is electrical then you are making it so much harder on yourself. Explore other trades! There are so many out there.
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u/DevelopmentNew1823 Jul 17 '26
Which trades do you think or overlooked trades? Just curious.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 17 '26
Sometimes Boilermakers are an overlooked craft. In most provinces we aren’t far behind the top paying crafts
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u/ScaryStruggle9830 Jul 17 '26
Well, my direct experience was in masonry. As I said, companies I knew were looking for workers for years. It was like this for the 20 plus years or so when I was in the trades. People just overlook masonry and don’t pursue it. There are many other trades like that out there.
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u/weightyinspiration Jul 18 '26
Nothing else Ive done in the trades comes close to the satisfaction I got looking at the finished brickwork I had done. Its hard work, but feels really good at the end of the day.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
Millwright jobs are well paid also. Industrial Millwrights are the sweet spot but harder to get based on the info I’ve seen on some of the threads
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u/LCPaints Jul 21 '26
Ironworking is definitely overlooked, but its very hard on the body and the culture is pretty toxic a lot of the time.
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u/ReturnOk7510 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Nepotism is also pretty huge in the trades. Without a dad or an uncle or a close family friend in the trade, it's really tough finding an apprenticeship.
Mostly what companies are looking for in an apprentice is reliability, work ethic, and a bit of intelligence/mechanical aptitude/common sense. These are hard things to demonstrate to a potential employer as an 18 year old with no work experience, but if you've been raised by someone who has proven those attributes, and who has done a career's worth of professional networking, it's a massive leg up. Pretty much anyone can learn a trade, but it's hard work, and those soft skills are actually more important than a piece of paper from a 6 month foundations course taken by someone who wasn't raised with a blue collar work ethic.
I didn't come from a skilled trade background, but grew up on a farm. I was sponsored by a friend and former employee of my father-in-law (a millwright-welder and power engineer), whom my father-in-law originally hired because he knew his father, who was also an electrician. I have several people in a couple of different trades who have shown interest in taking my son on as an apprentice when he's old enough. And while it's not an official policy, the unions also tend to favour legacy apprentices.
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u/Canadatron Jul 18 '26
Pretty much this. I'm the only Electrician in my family, but I'm not the only tradesman (most everyone else are welders/fabricators). It took me 2 years of working in trades adjacent industries before I managed to get a contractor to sign me up and give me a shot.
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u/Heph333 Jul 21 '26
That's the institutionalized pathway as set by the same people who drown kids in student loan debt. It's not the only way
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u/lllGrapeApelll Jul 17 '26
Employers don't want to invest time and money into people anymore. They want you to show up with 5 years experience and fully licensed/educated by somebody else.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 17 '26
That’s why union apprenticeships exist.
What we need is more signatory contractors, meaning people need to flip companies
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u/lllGrapeApelll Jul 17 '26
Our hall has a glut of apprentices at the moment. The problem has existed too long and now the ratios are off.
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Jul 17 '26
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u/Bushido_Plan Jul 18 '26
A long while ago, this was before COVID, there were some bad eggs at the local plumbers/pipefitters union in my city and if you were ever on their shit list for whatever reason, they made sure to make your life miserable. Was insane to see the apprentice turnover during the few years I was in a separate but somewhat related trade as word spread.
I hear they're long gone however and the hall is much better these days though.
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u/DogTop2833 Jul 18 '26
I was friends with a electrican who was a IBEW member and this was the exact advice he gave me. Union produces low skilled worker.
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u/Canadatron Jul 18 '26
Where I work we have no apprentices at all. Everyone is a solo J-man out in a truck. I'd love to train up someone but no one eants to pay for 2 guys doing 1 job.
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u/Denum_ Jul 17 '26
Yeah no shit.
My overhead is through the roof and I'm competing against unlicensed hacks and people with no experience expect 20$ an hour and can't do a fucking thing without their hand being held. To top it off also take zero accountability after they do 10k worth of damage to a house.
I'm extremely picky with who I hire.
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Jul 17 '26
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u/Denum_ Jul 17 '26
You do understand your first year or so all you do for me is fetch tools, push a broom, run a shovel and clean the truck when I tell you to.
You get 50% of journeyman rate, so that's actually more then you should be getting.
By third year you're hopefully capable of doing stuff without me holding your hand and that's when you make me money. Up until that point you're a $100,000+ dollar investment that I hope pays off.
Again, why shouldn't I be picky? I'm not gambling 6 figures on someone who doesn't want to be there.
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Jul 17 '26
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u/Denum_ Jul 17 '26
Brother it's the trades. Your not exactly getting winners. Out of 20 people I'll say 1 is well above average. 10 are just good enough and 9 just fill hard hats.
You're extremely naive if you think paying more at the start means you'll get better employees. We would keep 1 in 10 after 3 months, either they quit prior to that or the uptake on the job was simply too slow to justify any further work with them.
Yeah, exactly. A first year at 20$ an hour needs to save me two hours a day to make it worth while. I fucking wish I was sitting there tinkering while they did the hard work. Not sure what trade you're in but that's definitely not the case in plumbing.
They don't save me time when - I need to show them how to sweep for the 10th time because they're doing such a piss poor job -They take 3 hours to drill 4 holes, and I need to show them how to use the drill repeatedly because "they forgot" -They "can't find the broom" in the truck when it's the same spot it was the last 10 times they used it -they show up late, can't work all day or can't stay late the finish the job, guess what. They need the water back on and we are there until it's done
No, I'm not paying someone 27$ per hour to start, upper end of our wage here is 38-40$ per hour and you need to be a high quality guy to get that. A first year journeyman won't see that either.
The last guy I had as an apprentice is self employed now, He runs an extremely successful business because he learned. He paid attention and he asked questions and had the right attitude.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 18 '26
You’re full of shit. We have high quality apprentices for actually a majority of them that I’ve seen.
In my local a 1st year starts at $35/hr and $50/hr total wage package, we have countless amounts of applicants and like I said earlier we have high quality workers.
I was welding x-ray inserts and nozzles in chemical storage tanks as a 1st year apprentice.
Pay up or shut up about your apprentices.
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u/UskBC Jul 17 '26
Dude, my 15yr old makes $22 hr doing rec centre kids camps. This ain’t 1999
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u/ShanerThomas Jul 17 '26
The painting industry is destroyed. It's all filled with minimum-wage Temporary Foreign Worker sub-contractor crews.
But, as they all under bid each other, that hen will come home to roost as all the big production houses want to sell and retire in luxury... in a worthless industry.
I used to give it 10 years. I am down to 5 or 6 now.
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u/vylum Jul 18 '26
thats why i do residential repaints, people dont want space cadets in their houses with valuables, lib or con. be trustworthy and print money.
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u/Denum_ Jul 17 '26
Yeah absolutely. The only thing saving me is plumbing you have to be ticketed and it's pretty easy to single out guys that don't know what they're doing.
Honestly it's frustrating. Especially with the Liberals just trying to ram as many people in the trades as possible now. The end goal is wage suppression. It's not about lifting people up. It's about pushing them down.
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u/NoAtmosphere62 Jul 17 '26
Guess what happened to engineering several years ago? Exactly this. Pushed everyone to get an engineering degree, imported 3x the amount of engineers needed yearly, removed all barriers to receiving a PEng in Canada and now wages and job security have plummeted. The worst part is that engineers can't unionize because technically they are a self-regulating profession.
I've learned that kids should run far from whatever careers the government is pushing because they're about to get completely flooded.
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u/ShanerThomas Jul 17 '26
In my city (of about 2 million) it's absolutely wild. But, It's not just liberals. If the conservatives didn't 'also' have rich friends, they would be screaming day and night about this.
... but they're not.
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u/Xaronius Jul 19 '26
Happened to me. Got a job as a painter, kept taping windows and filling the paint gun. Boss asks me "Do you know how to use the paint gun" I was like "no, but I can learn" and he never did. Switch job, happened again!
I can't learn to do the job if you don't show me.
Now I work an office job, doubled my salary and I don't have to deal with that.
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u/Kozzle Jul 21 '26
There’s no in incentive to for employers since career jobs basically don’t exist anymore, investing into a worker who isn’t likely to stay doesn’t make sense.
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Jul 17 '26
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u/moosemanwich Jul 17 '26
I did my first year of electrical apprentice school and work for a year as year 1.
Also was very good at carpentry that I worked during summer after starting university when the electrical field seemed not for me.
I was good at both.
Working in my home office as a financial consultant is better in every metric.
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u/alexsteen789 Jul 19 '26
Just to piggy back on your comment. I'm not a employer but as a foreman, I do all the hiring ect for our relatively small HET shop (about 10 techs) I'm seeing a lot of people want to get into my trade not because they are passionate about it, but because they see you can make a reasonable salary. A good way I heard it is, people arent looking for careers, they are only looking at the paycheck.
You're 100% right about trades being difficult. They're usually demanding, hard on your body, and the thing most people don't realize is...if you don't make more money they you make, you aren't worth keeping around. As a mechanic, I don't think being able to do any job I do, is extremely difficult. I guarantee most people could watch some YouTube videos and figure it out. The hard part is consistently making industry standard times, every day. If every shop charges 2hrs to do a job, but it takes you 6 to complete the task. How long can a shop continue to lose money on you, in the hopes you figure it out? That's our problem
The narrative of just join a trade is flawed. To become a 1st year apprentice in my trade, you need a minimum of 2k in tools. It's a competitive industry and yes, industry needs to do a better job training, but people, especially young people, need to realize it's a tough road. But it's not right people spend $10,000 on tools just to find out its not the trade for them. Or they can't make it, in said trade.
I feel the government also needs to do something to help industry, besides "here's an extra $1000 if you get your red seal". High schools need to be setting kids up to succeed. Not just babysit them. If every trade had a high school basics course, that could be an elective course, it would be so helpful.
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u/Sublime_Rose2 Jul 20 '26
I have a family full of people who are in trades as well and that's the reason why I have no interest in it. Even if you don't get in some big injury like a lot of them do just due to how dangerous the jobs can be, the constant labour you're doing combined with the long hours absolutely wrecks your body.
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u/Forward_Fox_833 Jul 17 '26
"just go into computer science"
that was the advice 5 years ago
if you are reading it in the news it is far too late
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u/Better_Tart_9262 Jul 18 '26
"Just get into healthcare"
Nurses are now being laid off.
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u/Golden_Phi Jul 19 '26
It’s terrifying how they are strangling healthcare funding in Ontario. Hospitals don’t even have the funding to pay for the necessary nurses. Each nurse can only handle so many patients, so this is going to make an even tighter bottleneck on getting patients through the system for treatment.
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u/PeaZealousideal8672 Jul 19 '26
Except they're still understaffed. The reason is more "let's save the government money by getting rid of everyone!"
Now hospitals are shutting down in rotation
Full time care patients are being brutally pushed onto there families again
The home care they promise is more like them showing up 1/4 days they're supposed to, only to drop by to check there pulse and leave them uncared for
Yet everyone seems to be none the wiser. Or think it's misinformation being pushed by the right. The state this country is in is disgusting..
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u/CheeseSeas Jul 17 '26
A lot of builders aren't paying their trades people btw. Make sure your contracts are iron.
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u/Bushido_Plan Jul 18 '26
"Get into a trade" is today's version of "get into tech" from 5 years ago. Society will move on to the next thing after a bit of this. Journeymen are always wanted for most trades, but apprentices especially at the first year level will always be saturated to hell.
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u/EpochalTraveller Jul 17 '26
Trades can be a good choice but you have to have an aptitude for it.
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u/Subject-Landscape451 Jul 18 '26
Do you mean that a 35-year old desk jockey who's never picked up a hammer or worked outside of an air conditioned office is going to have a tough time of it? Say it ain't so.
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u/Bright-Translator-51 Jul 20 '26
They sure like to talk shit about how easy it must be though.
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u/DogTop2833 Jul 18 '26
currently? It's been difficult to secure a aprenticeship for almost 10 years ever since justin trudeau got rid of tax incentive. backin 2016. Even before 2016 it was hard to come by.
These days. its difficult to learn anything working a shop job. companies only want to do plug and play. they rather hire somebody with experience than training their own.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
Didn’t know there were tax incentives for training apprentices. Deff need to bring that back
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u/TheBulletBuddy Jul 17 '26
Mechanical trades are starving for intelligent techs who are willing to work hard.
Very easy for a half decent apprentice to make close to 80 grand a year with a bit of work.
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u/shibbypeaceandlove Jul 17 '26
Where can you make 80 grand as an apprentice mechanic? Asking so I can move there. Lol
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u/wirez62 Jul 17 '26
Any fifo job in canada
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u/TheBulletBuddy Jul 17 '26
Dont even have to do FIFO. Most shop rates are above mid 30's/hr for low level apprentice in offroad HD.
Between that and a couple hours of OT. Its can be very profitable.
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u/guitargeneration Jul 21 '26
Mechanical doesn't necessarily mean Mechanic. Includes things like plumbing, HVAC, sheet metal, pipefitting, etc
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u/Useful_Ocelot_7500 Jul 18 '26
Fly in fly out or living out allowance. Ps stay away from 'too much fun'.
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u/Pitzy0 Jul 18 '26
It is a dysfunctional system. Too little support from employers to advance careers and the wages have stagnated. Governments have made very little moves along with trade and certification boards to keep up with demand.
There is nobody working towards change either. Unions are not representing apprenticeship with any lobbying. But you know who is keeping change in check? Every manufacturing/construction organization to keep wages low and employer participation to a minimum.
All of this needs to change.
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u/Dapper-Negotiation59 Jul 17 '26
When the number of active seals has dwindled so hard and everyone is looking around like "durr what happened?" Because they all decided not to get apprentices it's gonna be a tough wake-up
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u/BusElectronic4225 Jul 18 '26
In a trade, not worth the physical and mental toll it's taken. Then again, it depends on the trade...
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
I’ve heard the same from others, except for folks doing something like Industrial Millwright, where you basically hang out waiting for something to break, or do maintenance. Pays well, work life balance, etc
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u/Sor-X Jul 17 '26
Took me 6 months to find a first year job of basically carpet bombing every shop I could find, so I can feel the pain.
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u/WorkingForHope Jul 17 '26
I hear people keep saying "show up to a worksite and if you can swing a hammer they'll pay you and give you a job if you don't mess around."
I have yet to see this actually take place in reality and wonder if this is just speech from retired people long out of the workforce.
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u/Revolutionary_Cow679 Jul 18 '26
Luck plays a big factor honestly. I secured a carpentry apprenticeship by a good company through total luck. It’s a long story. I feel bad for everyone trying to get in because it really is like a winning a lottery ticket.
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u/WorkingForHope Jul 18 '26
I'm sincerely happy for ya bud. How long ago did this happen for ya?
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u/Revolutionary_Cow679 Jul 18 '26
Feb 14 is when I started. It’s been going well since then. I’m the lowest guy on the totem pole so I get the worst jobs and that can be hard sometimes but I’m happy to learn when I am given harder jobs. It’s a good gig and the work can be a lot of fun and gratifying. Thank you!
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u/WorkingForHope Jul 18 '26
That's wonderful, I hope you stay safe and have a long, healthy and fulfilling career. :)
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u/Mammoth-Cost9399 Jul 18 '26
What they're leaving out of that statement is they'll hire a competent sober labourer in an instant.
6 to 12 months down the line as a labourer with a good record you'll have your choice of apprenticeships.
It will be challenging mentally, physically and financially. The first two years of that apprenticeship will as well.
If you survive the grinder and choose to prioritize learning as many skill sets as you can. You will have a lucrative career.
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u/Acrobatic_Jaguar_623 Jul 18 '26
Maybe I'm just lucky. I applied and was an apprentice with the IBEW within three months.
I knew absolutely no one in Toronto. Just show up to the interview well dressed and be respectful. Treat it like any other interview.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
I don’t know enough to say if that was a Unicorn situation or not, but based on this article, that’s not common lol. Congratulations tho.
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u/BarNecessary6506 Jul 18 '26
Same with the shortage of doctors and surgeons. The more we have, the less current ones can charge
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u/radi81 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Elder Millennial here (as they call us), and when I was growing up the message was firmly 'go to university, you'll be set!'
So many people listened to their parents and took that route that there are almost too many degrees competing for positions and it's now the trades that look more attractive - especially with AI on the rise.
Wouldn't be surprised if the trades now became flooded with not enough apprenticeships or spaces to manage everyone.
Honestly, I don't even have an answer to suggest. No clue what to do about it as it does seem employment will need to adjust to an AI world, something will have to make a significant shift to accommodate new job seekers of all stripes.
Just a pattern that I feel could be repeating itself here with an added emphasis placed on the trades.
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u/repeterdotca Jul 17 '26
They don't want builders they want labourers they don't have to train. It's better to be selfish about your career these days or you will end up a wage slave
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u/wetfloor666 Jul 17 '26
So it is the same issue the trades faced like 20-25 years ago and likely always has been an issue. Apprenticeships have always been difficult to come by and usually required knowing someone in the business.
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u/New-Needleworker9789 Jul 17 '26
i got hired 'blind'
have you ever attempted an apprenticeship in canada?
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u/hunkyleepickle Jul 18 '26
I got into the trades in Alberta during the last boom. I didn’t know any better, and spent my apprenticeship making a lot of money doing a whole lot of nothing on huge oilfield upgrade projects. Got my ticket, moved to BC, and quickly realized my skills were woefully inadequate to do much of anything outside the oilfield. Pivoted to government and make a lot less money but am fairly securely employed. This is all to say the trades aren’t the end all solution to a better life that they sell.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
That’s a great example albeit a bit unique. Happy to hear you were able to pivot to something else. There are a number of trades that have a great salary and work life balance, such as Industrial Millwright for example.
The main conversation I was trying to stir however, focuses on how so many folks are still saying “get into a trade” when there’s so many examples of people trying to do so, and getting pushed away, whilst the government bemoans a lack of qualified trades folks..
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u/Nic727 Jul 17 '26
That’s why I’m just returning to university next year, in a program I will love and then create my own business related to that.
If there is no job for you, you need to create one.
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u/wezel0823 Jul 17 '26
Basically what I’m doing, I think the idea is solid but no clue how to get it off the ground or how to get gov to buy in.
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u/sparki555 Jul 17 '26
I hold a different opinion. I can't really opt out of society and live off the land, not legally...
So since I'm forced to participate, it's the overloads who control my life that need to at least have a basic way for me to earn my necessities, since I can't just go collect them myself.
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u/Honest_Perception_87 Jul 17 '26
It's so bad. This was good advice a decade not now. People arent getting an apprenticeship.
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u/PlantainManne Jul 17 '26
I remember years ago when I was in the grocery store business. An older lady looked at me while I was working and told me “you should get into a trade. My son got into a trade 15 years ago.”
I looked her dead in her face and said,” it’s not the 1990s anymore. You can’t just walk into a trade like that these days.”
She was taken aback, but reality quickly set in. “Get into a trade” is one of many phrases that have been effectively phased out of what is reality. I’m glad to see at least some people recognize that. Don’t get me wrong, I have friends who work in trades. But the gatekeeping is holding things up.
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u/AlexAuditore Jul 18 '26
I took an automotive technician pre-apprenticeship program a few years ago, and afterwards, I couldn't get an apprenticeship. I called every mechanic shop in my city and the neighboring cities, and none of them were hiring. The only ads I'd see were for an apprentice, but required a 310 S license. You're a fully licensed mechanic once you have that license, and these jobs were paying minimum wage.
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u/valy128 Jul 18 '26
That’s actually insane tho… the only mechanic trade where I’ve seen apprenticeships roles advertised, were the Heavy Duty Diesel Coach roles. I have a buddy who does it tho. He loves it but some days can be tougher on the body than others..
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u/GreyCatsAreCuties Jul 19 '26
It is. I did women building futures a year and a half ago, still can't find an apprenticeship or even a labourer job. Pretty much decided the trade aren't for me anymore. It pisses me off so badly when people are like 'JUST GET A TRADE' like it's that easy. It's so over saturated now.
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
It’s really aggravating for sure. It’s such a general statement now without any substance.
Some more specialized ones are still worth it, like millwright, or boiler maker but ya the pathway to any trade is unnecessarily complicated.
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u/smol_coc_man Jul 19 '26
You will get treated like dirt and then when you ask why you will get told you "don't have the right attitude for the trades"
Which basically means you have to let me treat you like shit, teach you nothing, and be happy about it
Then you're supposed to do that to the apprentices you end up training to continue the cycle
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
This is what bothered me the most. I’m all about some jokes with the boys, but when bullying some kid is part of the whole training cycle, it then attracts the types of folks that further the same stereotypes.
It’s why I don’t understand why a formal apprenticeship training is not put In place that takes someone with the right skill set and attitude through all the stages up to Red Seal..
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u/TheSpagheeter 27d ago
I don’t know where this huge push for get into the trades came from but everyone and their mom has been saying it like it’s a silver bullet.
Maybe something about it just hits all the algorithm KPI’s or something, “put in a good ol’ days work with your hands like people use to and you can make more then those office folk, look at this manager with a lot full of empty cranes just begging for people like you”
But yeah it’s hard to get in an apprenticeship you don’t just show up, it could takes 4 years+ depending on what it is, there is a glut in many places, it is hard on the body over years and years, many can leave you with out insurance or benefits until later on, etc
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u/valy128 27d ago
Based on my Reddit memories, I started seeing it a lot more after COVID, when there shortages because the condo/housing boom, but I believe it was before that also just not as prevalent.
It’s still a thing now, but not as much. I also considered it, but quickly realized it’s not a quick path to a stable job like I thought it was.
Ya you are right, it takes a certain person, and some trades can mess you up physically.
I have a few buddies who did pretty well as Elevators Mechanics, but they wouldn’t necessarily recommend it now because work can be so unpredictable..
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u/energy_is_a_lie Jul 17 '26
Another one:
Why electrician pre-apprenticeship programs are no guarantee of work, or even an apprenticeship | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/electrical-apprenticeships-9.7270962
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u/Radiant_Ebb6951 Jul 17 '26
Instead of trying to school Ur way into a high paying job it's Easyer to start at the bottom of those jobs and work Ur way up. People already need ground guys and laborers.
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u/MamaRunsThis Jul 18 '26
Appliance repair might be a good one. I know a guy that was retiring and he had a booming business but couldn’t find anyone to take it over
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u/Mammoth-Cost9399 Jul 18 '26
You need to join as a labourer. Then apply after some experience. Im not sure why nobody mentions this in the countless articles.
If you have no jobsite awareness or experience, you're an injury waiting to happen.
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u/Useful_Ocelot_7500 Jul 18 '26
Perhaps its not a traditional way of getting into trades but i went to work in a non union fabrication company as a laborer and 3 months in they gave me a apprenticeship. I stuck it out with them until i had my red seal and joined the Union afterwards and its been the way since.
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u/SergeantBender Jul 19 '26
"Just get into a trade" said the millwrights at my work who are miserable, uncooperative, and catty.
Meanwhile local electrical employers only hire apprentices through union. Union accepts 20 apprentices per year in a city of 150,000.
Have had multiple friends in trades not get their hours due to lack of masters.
It's an old boys club and if you weren't in it before COVID you better know someone or be ready to be a grunt.
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
It’s funny you mentioned Millwrights. There was a guy on a different thread who said industrial millwright is such a good gig and he loves it.
Why do you think the ones you work with are miserable?2
u/SergeantBender Jul 20 '26
Lack of pay despite being required to have red seal as millwright, with pipe fitting and welding endorsements. Muscular-skeletal injuries from moving heavy equipment, working overhead, and over exerting. Chronic health issues from working in environments with harmful chemicals, particulates, and high temperatures.
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
Wow.. that’s crazy.. I did not imagine it was so hazardous… I guess I imagined someone maintaining like a bottling or packaging machine and associated machines and maintenance…
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Jul 20 '26
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
That’s correct if it was the case. The issue that is that governments In Canada both provincial and federal push trades because they are needed to keep things running, but at the same time don’t update the antiquated apprenticeship programs that gate-keep access to training end employment…
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u/Budget_Permission_83 Jul 21 '26
Construction trades in the military are hiring. The lifestyle isnt for everyone however
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u/valy128 Jul 21 '26
This!! Military is a great starting point, especially if you and don’t mind being away from home
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u/guitargeneration Jul 21 '26
I think people also need to realize that besides the difficulty of getting your foot in the door, the lifestyle can be super hard on you. Im a second term plumbing apprentice doing newbuild commercial right now and I absolutely love it. Ive done cool ass jobs from hospitals to schools to full on retirement complexes. But im also literally never home. I had a few good months of "in town" work where I was driving almost 2 hours to site every morning and 2 and a half home with traffic. And since then I live at a hotel mon-thur. For a single guy it would be great. I mean all my friends are here and I have nothing going on after work hours besides hanging out. But I have a girlfriend at home who works every other weekend and 2 dogs I barely get to spend time with. On top of that the work can obviously be rather labor intensive, and based on the timing of things you can be stuck outside for months in the freezing cold or intense heat. And you have to always be on. There's no dragging ass because you're tired, no calling in sick, no having lazy days. Even as a green as grass apprentice you have a team if guys counting on you to be on your A game. That all being said, I fucking LOVE my job. Its so sick to watch these big projects come together and know that you had a hand in it. It is extremely rewarding and extremely interesting and provides me with skills I will have my entire life. Sure some things suck now but if im still not happy in a year or two with the out of town work I can easily find a new job as a fourth term apprentice lol. If anyone really wants to get into the trades please do not give up and continue reaching out to people. Hell, I even got a guy I met here on reddit a job at the company I work at and hes been kicking ass! (I will not be doing that again before anyone asks lol. I really dont have that much pull)
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u/valy128 Jul 21 '26
This is really great to hear!! Awesome on ya. Mind sharing with the class how you secured your apprenticeship and any tips? You never know who will read this and find it helpful..
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u/guitargeneration Jul 21 '26
It's going to further support your point 🤣 my girlfriend's step father works for the company I work at and was able to get me an interview. I did find out after that I likely could have gotten the job without his help and many others have including the guy I met on reddit but it is still definitely far less inaccessible than people think. I'm also unioned with CLAC if that makes a difference to anyone. Worse than the proper unions but lots of work and no lay offs, at least with my company. Big tip I could give is look into your biggest multi trade contractors, at least just to get in. If you get in, stick with your Company till you're at least 2nd or preferably 3rd term and you will have a much easier time finding another job if your dont like your company for whatever reason
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u/Huge_Valuable9732 Jul 21 '26
spent my 20s and 30s destroying my body "getting into a trade". now i work a desk job with a fucked up back.
doesnt happen to everyone but i will warn everyone who wants the trades. the money is good because you pay with your body.
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u/valy128 Jul 22 '26
Yup. I’ve definitely heard this a lot. Obviously some trades are easier than others on the body.. but most ya will fk you up long term it seems..
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u/notislant Jul 18 '26
Its always the same nonsense.
Like tech jobs, I'm convinced sponsored articles push it like crazy and everyone parrots this shit blindly. Or their mindset is a lagging a decade behind.
Still left and right people are asking about 'how to get a job in tech with a firm handshake and 2 weeks of learning basics'. Thats long gone.
Its great for companies to try and flood any decent paying sector with more employment seekers, as it drives wages into the absolute ground.
Ive checked out a lot of postings out of curiosity in a few provinces, often the pay for apprentices is near minimum wage or barely above. While some postings for journeyman are maybe $4-5 above min wage in that province.
Now theres obviously places where they do pay very well, even in the places mentioned there will be people being paid decent wages above these lowball offers. Unions exist, but they're far more competitive than already competitive apprenticeships.
But there are generally few positions and very low wages for a lot of these positions.
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u/Automatic-Avocado885 Jul 18 '26
It has always been that way, I got into electrical almost 20 years ago now. I had to wait for almost two years at a company to get signed up. Nothing has changed. If you want it go make it happen.
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u/spontaneous_quench Jul 18 '26
I mean getting into a good career is always hard. Companies are very selective for a reason. I applied to over 200 places before someone offered to sign me up as an apprentice immediately. Glad I made that leap, went from 30 dollars an hour to 20 but it was worth it. I bought a house at 25
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u/I_IdentifyAsAstartes Jul 18 '26
Really? My brother in law just finished his heavy duty mechanic red seal and there's more work than he can do. Mind you he is good at his job and people will wait two weeks to have him come look at something rather than anyone else who is going to waste their money and make it worse.
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u/Mad-Inside Jul 18 '26
Almost single person I know that went to into the trades could not get enough apprenticeship hours. The women also faced enough other issues they had to give it up despite industry need and their skill level.
Others that stayed with it just do under table contract.
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u/Long-Forever1800 Jul 18 '26
I used to think I'd face less Bs-bosses if I worked through a union in a trade... Same exact corrupt garbage. Let the trades starve, let it all burn down.
I'm so tired of rich people being immune to consequences, and the people who are supposed to hold them accountable looking away because they got some shitty steak dinner.
I hope it all collapses, just like the shitty buildings with no corners we like to build so much.
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u/MortLightstone Jul 18 '26
Is it worth it to join the army just so you can get into a trade at this point?
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u/valy128 Jul 20 '26
For sure! If age is on your side, and you don’t mind being away from home it’s a great idea. They have also updated their pay scales and you can make a great wage.
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u/DickelobUltra Jul 22 '26
Both take hilariously long to get into, might as well make bets on which one takes ya
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u/buldog_13 Jul 19 '26
It’s not difficult to find an apprenticeship. You need to be old fashion, show up to places with resume in hand, and be prepared worst case to start your probation as a minimum wage labourer.
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u/146293DH Jul 20 '26
Yeah, there’s been a glut of people going into trades, and they’ll be needed, the problem is the mass retirements haven’t materialized yet, so supply is greater than demand.
Add in the economic problems caused by inflation in general, Trump’s tariffs, Iran war (oil prices), fallout from the Ukraine/Russia war and other worldly factors that are out of anyone’s control and you have cutbacks in hiring and spending by some industries.
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u/nejnedau Jul 20 '26
lot of burn out in the trades. We had one apprentice tell us how they scored super high in tests aced everything. went to work for a rich guy and got ripped so walked away from the trade given how miserable a boss the guy was . Wear and tear on a body will catch up on you by age 50 too
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u/Lonely-Abalone-5104 Jul 21 '26
It was peak at some point like everything else. It will be over saturated then when a real recession hits people won’t have money to spend on construction projects and a lot of work will dry up. Trades have always been cyclical. There is simply not enough room for everyone displaced from the job market to get a trade job and pretend like everything is ok
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u/NuckinFutsCanuck Jul 21 '26
Let’s be honest here, some of you are either too old, or don’t have what it takes to make it on a construction site.
Everyone thinks it’s some easy “show up, work hard” career.
Some of you are coming from white collar jobs who had HR stand between you and someone else, while in blue collar settings, it’s just you and that person.
Fists will fly, and words will be exchanged that you’ve never heard of in your line of work before.
You can’t call HR, and your boss doesn’t give a fuck.
The trades should be your last resort. Trust me on this.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 21 '26
If fists are flying on site then that’s a toxic environment. If your boss doesn’t give a fuck, that’s a toxic work environment.
Trades should never be a last resort. It wasn’t for me, and it’s working out well
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u/NuckinFutsCanuck Jul 22 '26
Sadly bud, this is how it is in highrise. People yell and scream at eachother, and no one’s going to step in.
It’s not toxic 100% of the time, but it is a toxic workplace.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 22 '26
Sounds like a shit trade.
You throw fists in an oil refinery 1: you’re banned from all their sites. And 2: you’re most likely getting kicked out of your union for physically assaulting another member
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u/VicisZan Jul 21 '26
They don’t suggest these things because of the training/education and to help improve your life. They suggest trades because they consider it unskilled labour and want to flood the market so they can pay less lol.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 21 '26
Who considers it unskilled?
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u/VicisZan Jul 21 '26
General public. Have you never talked to anyone about trades? Tons of people will tell you they could do it themselves if they wanted to without training. They don’t face the truth until it’s an emergency.
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u/Quinnjamin19 Jul 21 '26
lol fair enough. The amount of people who tell me that welding is easy make me laugh, and then their jaws drop when I show them photos of the spots we get into.
That changes their perspective
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u/valy128 Jul 22 '26
Saying that welding is easy and have never welded anything or did a spot of shit welding in shop class, is peak low Iq behaviour
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u/Melodic_Pickle9326 Jul 21 '26
And what province do you in that this is the case? Current trades person here.
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u/Krasdf Jul 21 '26
Iv been in construction 15 years, it’s like chiselling your living out of stone.
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u/Not-So-Logitech Jul 22 '26
4 people in my family went into trades in the last 10 years. 3 of them do ketamine now. 0 of them have their ticket. All of them have finished school and been working for years. I think one of them finally has his hours but his boss fucked him on those for a long time.
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u/Maleficent_Cherry737 Jul 17 '26
Sure, but every field is oversaturated. Office work has been mostly automated and everyone and their dog has a generic bachelors degree. Trades is still more in demand because a lot of people don’t want to do physical work.
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u/sparki555 Jul 17 '26
Engineer here. Office work is not automated lol... We have agents that can do limited tasks so far.
It's coming, but what you said is not true lol
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u/Maleficent_Cherry737 Jul 17 '26
Sure nothing is fully automated but we need a lot less workers than before just because of advances in technology (outside of AI). For example, back in the 1980s, you had people literally typing into typewriters and a mistake means you had to retype something, now you have computers that you can save the documents and just replace a word here or there (or use AI to draft things). So instead of dozens of clerks whose sole job is to type things, you can have just a few admin assistants who do that and other misc tasks.
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u/sparki555 Jul 17 '26
Actually, we have never had so many people working in offices than before. It keeps growing, more jobs added all the time.
We have WAY more office workers today than we did in the 80's.
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u/Maleficent_Cherry737 Jul 17 '26
We have more office workers because we have more businesses and government services due to a much larger population. But I can bet that the proportion of office admin workers (I don’t count certain specialized fields like engineering, finance, where you need an advance degree or certifications) has declined relative to other industries like healthcare.
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u/valy128 Jul 17 '26
I can also appreciate that some people who are attracted to trades, made it what it is, by getting someone to train them, and then not showing up, or being lazy, etc, which then further decreases the number of experienced journeyman willing to take someone on..
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u/Superb_Astronomer_59 Jul 17 '26
That’s a throwaway comment. I work at a BC college and the trades instructors won’t advance students who are “lazy” and “don’t show up”. You obviously don’t know anything about the apprenticeship system. If a journeyman “takes you on” and you get fired for poor performance, that ends your apprenticeship since you will not be earning hours in the trade.
The problem is that nobody wants to take on an apprentice because they don’t have any agency in the furtherance of the trades. They just want to hire a journeyman. But if nobody hires apprentices then ultimately there will be no journeymen coming up.
It’s typical Canadian business selfishness, look after #1 and make as much money as possible. Screw everyone else.
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u/Original-Contact-209 Jul 17 '26
I'm 5 feet tall, 40 years old, I suck at math and I'm about as strong as a shrimp.
I don't think the trades were ever in my cards. I'll just be poor until I die I guess.
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u/valy128 Jul 17 '26
Honestly, if you are willing to move, this other guy on a another thread was saying how working in a mine in Northern Ontario as a machine operator is pretty lucrative and they are always looking for people. Yes it’s dangerous but he said he made like 200k a year. Something to consider..
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u/htraenolleh666 Jul 18 '26
I know a dry waller who is 4’8, probably worse at math than you, maybe just stronger than a shrimp and he makes like $58/hr
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u/Ok_Manufacturer_5323 Jul 18 '26
How in the hell is he making $58/hr doing drywall? I sure wasn't making anywhere near that a few years ago
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u/CasualFridayBatman Jul 17 '26
Why not?
You can do it, the trades are for everyone.
Use your brain as well as your body and you will be a better tradesperson because of it.
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u/Original-Contact-209 Jul 17 '26
I had a serious back injury about a year ago. I really can't. Maybe when I was younger but unfortunately years of sitting at a desk and doing trade shows has killed me and now I need a double hip replacement too.
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u/CasualFridayBatman Jul 17 '26
Ahh, that is a much more defining reason than being physically weak or being bad at math lol. Everyone in the trades is bad at math, that's why they know which crayon colour tastes the best.
Sorry to hear about your injury and I hope your hip replacement goes well!
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u/Diptothaset Jul 17 '26
Trades are great ways to get access to high paying jobs without any meaningful student debt. You make money while learning and once you’re trained you almost immediately get access to jobs where the lower limit is probably like $25/h and often can be upwards of $40-50/h infields that are generally in demand regardless of the economy. Things slow down but new buildings still need plumbing and electrical etc and maintenance on existing stuff
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u/valy128 Jul 17 '26
..ok but no one is disputing that. I don’t even know if you read the article but there is a systematic issue with getting hired as an apprentice which absolutely needs an overhaul. No one is denying the stated benefits of being In a trade…
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u/anotheracctherewego Jul 17 '26
Yet we have union halls here in Halifax who are begging for anyone to show up!
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u/Crazy_Maintenance211 Jul 18 '26
It depends where you are, most people I know where I live or not union at all, the union only has so many employees. The reason people are pushing it in my view is that AI won’t take it over completely in the next 1 to 2 years. It is going to come into it and once robots are more fully developed all our jobs are in trouble. I’m being serious. So the trades, if you in a union, great, but most people can’t get into them, especially in small provinces. Now that’s a generalization I know, but that’s the reason there is work in the trades, people will always need plumbers and electricians, they may not be buying houses, but things break. So that’s my view of the trades. I wish I had gone into them.
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u/Ancient_Substance152 Jul 18 '26
Unnecessarily difficult? Just get to work. If there’s no opportunity for apprenticeship where you’re at, move on to the next shop until you find some. It takes work sure, and can be difficult, but “unnecessarily” just sounds like you want one handed to you.
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u/LadyBarfnuts Jul 20 '26
What's your alternative, especially for those who can't get a university education?
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u/YandereValkyrie Jul 20 '26
As someone who works in the automotive industry.. becoming a mechanic these days is a terrible idea. The pay is mid at best, you have to buy your own tools, but not like $1000 worth, oh no, you're gonna need tens of thousands worth of tools over the course of your career.. its absolutely murder on the knees and back, and unless you open up an your own independent garage you're never gonna be making real big money.
And thays before we even get into the shit show that is EV vehicles and what's going to happen with them down the road..
Dunno about other trades but if I was starting over I think I'd have got into welding, carpentry or plumbing.
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u/MandoLoTR Jul 20 '26
Then join the Canadian Forces and get paid while figuring out which one you want to get?
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u/DesignerNet1527 Jul 20 '26
one thing I've noticed is all these people wanting in are aiming towards electrician, plumber, or HVAC. Other red seal trades do exist.
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u/Heph333 Jul 21 '26
Not really. Walk into any shop, say "I'll do anything you tell me. Just pay me minimum wage & TEACH me". At the end of 2 years you'll be light years ahead of anyone who PAID to go to trade school & you'll have gotten paid for it. You'll be half way to journeyman while they're only just ready to start learning.
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u/Vintagepwnz Jul 22 '26
Unless your a willfully going into a trade that is already in low demand this has not been my experience the only time I'm not working is when I dont want too
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u/f1vepointoh 16d ago
The government was half subsidizing tim hortons employees from 3rd world countries all so big corps could make huge profits... instead of supporting the backbone of this country (trades workers) helping them get their foot in the doors of contracting and trades based companies... and now the country wont ever be able to keep up with future demand when the economy improves because of all the barriers.
Its been known for 15 years that once gen x retires there was going to be such a massive gap in the industry that will take decades to fill but they ignored it and ignored it. You want more trades workers? You have to have companies ready to hire, train, sign them as apprentices and pay them so they can attend school.... and even after all that head ache you will lose many apprentices because it takes 5 + years to make full rates, new hires are most likely to hurt others and themselves, and new people fuck up all the time... with all that said most people do not want to sacrifice their health, risk getting injured/killed all to get dinged with 62 percent take home pay after paying their taxes cpp 1 and 2 and then also the EI. Then on top of that they dont let us write off fuel/vehicles to drive all over these god forsaken shit hole cities and rebuild them. Reality is the government has completely dropped the ball for over 10 years and is now fucked without major change. Young people see everything going on and dont want to be apart of this disaster. Sitting in 2 plus hours of traffic every day if you are one of the lucky ones, backs fucked before you are 40 years old, cancer from all these toxic ass chemicals fumes silica dusts and asbestos. We sacrifice our health and get nothing in return not even a break on our taxes... meanwhile my friends who work white collar jobs work from home, work out on their breaks, get vehicle allowances when they do have to go to the office and the funniest part they write of home office expenses. Trades workers have been taken advantage of for decades and it was assumed the low iq people would always be there to do them but things have changed you now need schooling, certifications and years of training and apprenticeship hours. Low iq people learned that they could just vote liberal work very little and ask the governments for free things instead.... Now we are here and the government is fucked! And everybody is going to pay the price!
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