A shortage in skilled work is one thing, but there’s another layer to the problem where these workers need to upgrade the skills they have amid significant digital disruption. At least one quarter of Canada’s four million tradespeople will need to boost their skill literacy in their respective fields over the next five years lest they fall short of meeting industry needs.Article content
With 700,000 skilled tradespeople expected to retire by 2028, skilled labour will actively be leaving the market without enough apprentices in the wings to replace them, putting strains on the pipeline. The authors of the report, Naomi Powell and Ben Richardson, attribute this shortage to the outdated stigma surrounding skilled trades and the underrepresented groups looking to break into the space. Amid rapidly changing technology, what’s taught in these apprenticeship training programs also runs the risk of becoming outdated.
Skilled trades have long held the stereotype of being a “blue collar” job with a strenuous amount of physical, heavy work. However, there are health and safety standards in place and the median income for these types of jobs can range from $80,000 to $100,000, and even more.Article content