According to Employment and Social Development Canada, seven lakh people working in skilled trades will retire in Canada by 2028. Hence, the job opportunities for new skilled workers in the skilled trade sector are enormous.
Hiring a workforce with knowledge and practical experience is essential for the economy's growth. The skilled trade workforce is in high demand in Canada. Canada's various skilled trades programs can help international students gain expertise and knowledge. Students can network in their field through classroom learning and practical training (apprenticeships and co-op terms).
Skilled Trades, also known as vocations, refer to occupations that require specific skills and hands-on work. In Canada, more than 300 designated skilled trades are categorized.
Some of them include
Fifty-four skilled trades in the designated trades have the Red Seal exam, and its certification is recognized in all Canadian provinces. This means that once a person gets the certification, there is no need to recertify while seeking work in any province in Canada.
There are many options for skilled trades, most of which are in high demand and well-paid in Canada, opening many possibilities for a good career path for international students. The Canadian government has grouped the various skilled trades under the below sectors:
Skilled trades such as industrial mechanics, tool and die makers, vehicle machining, metal fabricators, cabinet makers, machining and tooling inspectors, etc., are some of the careers to choose from in the several manufacturing and industrial sectors (such as product manufacturing, resource extraction, processing industries, automotive manufacturing, and so on).
This sector includes skilled trades such as machinists, network technicians, system administrators, component inserting machine operators, component inserting machine operators, and multimedia technicians.
Automobile technology, autobody repair and maintenance, car painting, etc., are classified under the transportation sector. Job options include automotive service technicians, motor vehicle assemblers, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, transmission mechanics, and automotive damage appraisers.
Construction is a significant sector in Canada. The skilled trades in the industry include electricians, architectural design technicians, heavy equipment operators, industrial instrument technicians, carpenters, welders, steamfitters/pipefitters, and plumbers.
The service sector is another primary sector in Canada, and the skilled trades that come under it are bakers, landscape horticulturists, cooks, hairstylists, designers, makeup artists, etc.
An international student who wants permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) must meet different criteria. One such criterion is sufficient work experience in the relevant trade (full-time two years or equivalent part-time). Graduating from the appropriate program at a Canadian institution will add points even though FSTP does not mandate an education requirement. A job offer in Canada is a requisite for the FSTP. Students can build professional networks during apprenticeships and fieldwork to improve their job prospects.
In-demand skilled trades (anticipated between the years 2022 to 2026)
The in-demand skilled trades given above are across Canada in general, and there are different in-demand trades in other provinces.
Below are some skilled trade programs that international students in Canada seek. The programs have an excellent curriculum that makes students experts in their fields and teaches them the safety measures to be adopted when working with industrial equipment and materials.
Niagara College's Welland, Ontario campus offers a two-year diploma program in Welding Technician, which provides students with hands-on learning. Students learn through projects that start with engineering drawings and then build different things through cutting, fitting, and welding using industrial materials. The program enables them to understand the standards and codes in manufacturing and construction. They will learn to construct bicycles, planes, medical devices, air seals, etc.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, Alberta, is one of the best institutions in the world to study the Culinary Arts program. The two-year diploma program offers an immersive learning experience through internships and classroom restaurant settings. Students are given training in everything related to culinary arts, from the basic skills of cooking to the current and emerging trends in the field. A unique feature of the institution is the on-campus meat market, a first in Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador's College of the North Atlantic offers a post-secondary Construction/Industrial Electrician certificate at four campuses: Labrador West, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Burin. Through the program, students gain knowledge in electric systems installation, alteration, maintenance, and relevant skills required to work and excel in the field. This 37-week program also helps students to take the Red Seal exam in the specific trade.
The Manufacturing Engineering Technician program offered by Mohawk College's Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades is a two-year undergraduate diploma program. Students are exposed to an experiential learning system and gain the comprehensive understanding required to work as industrial mechanics or millwrights. Through the optional co-op term in the program, students can earn apprenticeship hours while pursuing their studies.
The Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) apprenticeship requires in-school training, but students who graduate from the program and become registered apprentices do not need to do it.
Study interior decorating at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta (having a 94% graduate acceptance rate) to earn a diploma and get vast insights into the industry. Recognized by the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada, the two-year program will help you attain strategic and software knowledge in interior decorating. The institution has the best faculties in the industry and an excellent student support system.
The scope for skilled trades in Canada is vast, and it is crucial to have practical learning experience to work in the various skilled trades. Programs in Canadian institutions train students in practical scenarios and impart technology-based skills, increasing career prospects and the possibility of introducing new inventions and changes in the workplace.
If you are looking to immigrate to Canada for skilled trades jobs, ImmiLaw Global is here to help you. Our team with the immigration lawyer will guide you in navigating the immigration process smoothly and effectively. Let us assist you in meeting your immigration goals and building a successful future in Canada.
Feel free to contact us for your queries.
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