For various reasons, in Alberta and throughout North America, the perception and the option of working in a skilled trade has been devalued, upstaged and until recently, has taken quite a beating.
It’s not only the classic and stale blue collar vs. white collar cliche stereotypes. It is the lingering and traditional push for university degrees vs. apprenticeship and trade training. Warp-speed emerging technology is also a factor and the tempting trend of start-ups and exciting entrepreneurial dreams and wishes also plays a role.
Labour surveys, business leaders, education, training and HR professionals suggest that times, trends, attitudes and stereotypes are changing.
One of the key benefits of trade jobs over degree-requiring jobs and careers is the speed at which someone can get job ready and enter the workforce. While bachelor’s and master’s degrees require years to get, often requiring additional specialization time, it takes much less time to acquire the necessary hard skills for trade jobs through trade schools, apprenticeships, bootcamps and on-the-job training.
According to Edmonton’s Matt Lindberg, dean of the NAIT School of Skilled Trade, “In Alberta, educational institutions and the Alberta government are working toward combating blue vs. white collar stereotypes by promoting a ‘parity of esteem,’ emphasizing equal value and respect for vocational training and more traditional academic institutions. We are continually developing pathways, promoting initiatives to diversify the trades and putting on events to educate the public on what skilled trades really are.”
Of course, the relevance of the focus, content and acquired skills of the programs and courses are vital, and so are perceptions and attitudes.
“The Alberta government is taking action to combat stereotypes and make it clear that an education in the trades opens up opportunities in many different sectors of the economy,” explains Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education.
“We recently appointed an Advisory Council of Skilled Trade Youth Ambassadors to promote the skilled trades and show students the experiences unlocked by apprenticeship education, because the best way to encourage more students to enter trades is to share the stories of Albertans working in the trades. The 12 talented, forward-thinking young Albertans who have been nominated by their post-secondary institution based on performance excellence on their apprenticeship path will help inform our government on issues, challenges and opportunities affecting the skilled trades.”
Sawhney also highlights Alberta’s dynamic and unique Trade Secrets program.
“It is a one-stop shop for all the resources Albertans need on entering and completing apprenticeship programs. It has important information about job duties, salary expectations and career profiles for all of Alberta’s designated trades.”
She adds that the program also enables current apprentices to manage their applications, register for classroom instruction, upload documents, and track their program progression.
According to the province’s Trade Secrets, more than three quarters of Alberta’s apprentices are registered in one of 10 key programs. Registration stats show that between 2022 and 2023, the most interest and the largest growth was for steamfitter-pipefitter, welder, industrial mechanic (millwright), heavy equipment technician, crane and hoisting equipment operator.
The Alberta Occupational Outlook 2023-2033, published by the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade, underscored the province’s looming trades crunch. The Outlook report projects that in the next 10 years, the largest labour shortages will be in trades like electrician, plumber, heavy equipment technician, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, auto body technician, industrial mechanic (millwright), steamfitter-pipefitter, ironworker, welder and carpenter.
When it comes to trades training, being up to date and planning for the future is a consistent must.
“At NAIT, we have been actively developing pathways that bridge the gap between trades and technologies,” Lindberg points out. “By intermixing credit and trades programs, we create a more cohesive and industry-relevant educational experience. Initiatives such as Women Leading and Building Canada’s Future promote diversity in the skilled trades, encouraging more women to pursue careers in skilled trades by removing barriers. Events such as N=XT in Trade, create hands-on experiences for those curious about trades, which helps to break down stereotypes by highlighting the practical and technical skills required in blue-collar professions.”
He adds that in the past four years, NAIT has introduced several new trade diploma programs aimed at providing alternative pathways into skilled trades, including advanced plumbing technology, advanced welding technology, automotive service technology, electrical installations technology and starting this September, advanced carpentry technology.
“These programs are designed to provide continuous front-loaded instruction over two years. They offer a valuable alternative to traditional apprenticeship routes, making trade education more accessible to a wider range of students, including international students.”
Although the sometimes exciting entrepreneurial lure of start-ups and “being your own boss” are still tempting, many skilled trade careers do offer a better wage-to-cost comparison than job searching with a four-year (or more) degree.
According to recent Alberta stats, although the pay scale for a skilled trade in Alberta depends on a lot of factors, some skilled trades in Alberta can make up to $97,985 per year. Some of the highest-paying Alberta trade jobs include:
- Construction Manager. The median pay is upward of $101,000 per year; this is one of the highest-paying jobs without a degree.
- Elevator Mechanics work with elevators, lifts, moving walkways and various other escalator machines. While it’s a full-time job, the role also involves working occasional 24-hour on-call shifts. A median salary is approximately $99,000 per year and no higher degree requirements make this a lucrative career.
- Dental Hygienists, not often thought of as a skilled trade, is one of the highest-paying trade jobs and has a median Alberta pay of about $80,000 per year.
- Ultrasonographers (also referred to as diagnostic medical sonographers) are technicians and technologists in the healthcare industry. The median salary varies between specializations. Cardiovascular sonographers can expect to earn around $63,000 per year, while the number for diagnostic medical sonographers is around $81,000.
- Boilermakers have a median salary of around $66,900 per year. Being a boilermaker is a physically intense vocation. It can involve irregular hours and travelling.
- Electricians are in charge of electrical systems and they are contracted to install, maintain and repair them. The median annual wage is around $60,000.
- Plumbing is one of the fastest paying trade jobs to get into, as it requires just a high school diploma and no prior experience, with a median salary of around $60,000.
- HVAC Technicians (also known as HVACR) involves work with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with a median annual salary slightly above $51,000.
Lindberg emphasizes the reality – new technologies, labour standards and safety regulations must continually learn and adapt.
“Online learning platforms and tools have changed how some training is delivered, making it more accessible. As industries adopt new technologies, standards and regulations, both educators and tradespeople need to update their skills to stay relevant and meet the new standards. This constant evolution requires ongoing education and for institutes to adapt curriculums to keep up with the latest industry practices and regulations.”
