John Wabb
Chairperson, National Executive Board,
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers
Pierce Wemigwans
Electrician Foreman
Val Vanderwyk
Executive Director,
ISEAD
Nathan DeGagne
Apprenticeship Lead,
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers
As Canada faces a skilled trades shortage, apprenticeships are opening doors to high-paying, meaningful careers.
There are over 300 designated skilled trades in Canada, and many are in high demand. From welders and industrial electricians to millwrights and carpenters, hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople will be needed over the next few years. The construction industry alone must recruit an estimated 351,800 new workers by 2033, according to BuildForce Canada.
“There’s a need to always have a flow of new apprentices into the skilled trades,” says John Wabb, Chairperson of the National Executive Board of the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW), a blended skilled trades union founded in 1999. “It takes time to develop the skills and knowledge to be successful.”
The average age of registration for Canadian apprentices is 28, suggesting that the skilled trades aren’t a first choice for most high school graduates. Common misconceptions about the trades likely play a role. In reality, these careers offer strong pay, excellent pensions, and the chance to build a meaningful future.
Breaking down misconceptions
Contrary to outdated perceptions, trades careers are high-paying, offer solid pension plans and job security, require intelligence and aptitude, and welcome historically underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous youth.
They also offer ample opportunity for advancement. “There are so many career paths once you get your journeyperson certification — from leadership roles to starting your own business,” says Wabb.
Pierce Wemigwans, an Indigenous electrician foreman based on Manitoulin Island, Ont., has had a rewarding career in the trades. “After completing the Line Crew Ground Support program at Cambrian College, I started working for a small electrical contractor back on Manitoulin Island,” he says. “Shortly after joining the CUSW, I started at Bruce Power.”
Wemigwans encourages youth — and especially Indigenous youth — to take the leap, even if it means leaving their comfort zone. “Don’t be afraid to leave home,” he says. “We all struggle at first, but as long as you’re willing to learn, there’s an entire trades family willing to teach you.”
As long as you’re willing to learn, there’s an entire trades family willing to teach you.
Supporting Indigenous tradespeople
The not-for-profit organization Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship and Development (ISEAD), formerly known as the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario, is dedicated to increasing the number of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people in the trades.
“An apprenticeship is earn-while-you-learn,” says Val Vanderwyk, Executive Director of ISEAD. “It’s a pathway to fulfillment, sustainability, and long-term success.”
CUSW and ISEAD have partnered to raise public awareness of the trades shortage and expand apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for Indigenous Peoples. “CUSW has been a reliable partner since our very beginning,” says Vanderwyk. “They almost feel like family to us.”
Bright opportunities ahead
CUSW also collaborates with colleges and employers — including Georgian College, Cambrian College, and Bruce Power — on apprenticeship programs for all skilled trades roles, supporting those entering the industry with comprehensive training and clear pathways to employment.
“There’s a massive shortage of skilled tradespeople,” says Nathan DeGagne, Apprenticeship Lead at CUSW. “The answer is apprenticeships — and colleges are key to delivering the in-class training that supports them.”
A recent pre-apprenticeship program with CUSW and Georgian College had over a 90 per cent success rate. “Most participants are now in an apprenticeship or fully certified and working,” says DeGagne.
Wabb agrees that this type of collaboration is essential, adding that CUSW works closely with partners to ensure that graduates not only complete their training but also transition into meaningful careers.
Continued funding — often a challenge — is also critical. “Employers need support to give journeypersons the time to mentor,” says Wabb.
The skilled trades offer bright opportunities for today’s youth. “CUSW offers mobility — apprentices aren’t tied to one employer,” adds DeGagne. “They can work across the country while we handle the paperwork.”
“I see myself staying in this field for the rest of my life,” says Wemigwans.
To learn more about a future career in the trades, visit cusw.ca, aabo.ca,and isead.ca.
