Find your skilled trade. The future is yours to make.
Skilled trades are in high demand and essential to communities across Canada. Apprenticeship will allow you to earn money while you learn a skilled trade and kick-start a rewarding career.
Find your skilled trade
A skilled trade is an exciting career choice and many are in high demand. Career paths in the skilled trades are full of potential, with more than 300 designated trades to choose from in Canada. Of those, 54 are Red Seal trades.
The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.
Generally, skilled trades professionals work in one of these sectors:
Construction is a multi-billion-dollar industry in Canada that offers high demand careers in residential and commercial sectors. It features electricians, carpenters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, welders, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, painters and decorators, and more.
Transportation includes maintenance and repair of vehicles - ranging from automobiles and motorcycles, to trucks and heavy equipment. Transportation includes trades such as automotive service technicians, heavy duty equipment technicians, and motorcycle technicians.
Manufacturing and Industrial sector features careers in many different manufacturing settings, including automotive (parts and vehicles) and product manufacturing. Manufacturing trades include tool and die makers, industrial electricians, and metal fabricators. Canada’s resource industry employs hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople in resource extraction and processing industries. Some of these trades include heavy equipment operators, industrial mechanics (millwrights) and steamfitters/pipefitters.
The Services sector is a major industry in the Canadian economy and includes cooks, bakers, and hairstylists.
Information and Digital Technology skills are central to many trades. Most skilled trades use computer technology and apply digital skills everyday.
Tradespeople are also essential to building a green economy and a sustainable future.
Career Quiz
Take this career quiz and find out what career might be right for you!
In-demand skilled trades across Canada
More than 222,000 new Red Seal journeypersons are needed over the next four years to meet demand in Canada.
In-demand Red Seal trades expected from 2024 to 2028:
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Cook
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Hairstylist
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Welder
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Industrial Electrician
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Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
In-demand skilled trades by region*
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Alberta
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
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British Columbia
- Carpenter
- Hairstylist
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
-
Manitoba
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Cook
- Hairstylist
- Welder
-
New Brunswick
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
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Newfoundland and Labrador
- Automotive Service Technician
- Construction Electrician
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Electrician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
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Northwest Territories
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
- Plumber
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Nova Scotia
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Plumber
-
Nunavut
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Plumber
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Ontario
- Carpenter
- Cook
- Painter and Decorator
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Welder
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Prince Edward Island
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Plumber
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Quebec
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Industrial Electrician
- Plumber
- Welder
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Saskatchewan
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Hairstylist
- Plumber
- Sheet Metal Worker
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Yukon
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Plumber
- Truck and Transport Mechanic
Financial Support
Financial support is available so you can fully concentrate on learning your skilled trade.
Testimonial videos
Apprentice Steamfitter testimonial
Transcript of the video
Video length: 1:48
Jed: What I love most about my line of work is the diversity: the diversity in places that you'll work, things that you'll do, and the diversity of people. No job is the same.
I'm Jed and I'm a fourth year steamfitting apprentice with UA local 527. A lot of people ask, "what is a steamfitter?" And basically, we build and install industrial piping systems.
Mike: Oil sands, refineries, automotive...I can build anything in this trade.
Jed: Mike's a welder that I've worked with for the past few years. He's been like a mentor to me. I've learned so much from him.
Mike: I really enjoy seeing the spark on someone's face when they're learning a new trade or they're learning a new skill.
Jed: The site that I'm on right now, it's actually a multi-billion dollar project. And it's amazing to see the amount of resources that are being moved and the tools that are being used and the huge structures that are being built to get this place finished.
Mike: We have tight deadlines. We have serious work to do. It's very important for an apprentice to be the kind of person that wants to get work done.
Jed: The steamfitting trade, and frankly, trades in general, needs smart, capable, ambitious people.
Mike: Trades are a freedom to help you live the life that you want to live. When you're driving with your family and, you know, you look over at your wife and your kids and say, "I built that. See that right there? I built that."
Jed: So whenever I finish a job, I look back on what I do and I get to go, "wow." And it looks good. And there's a huge sense of pride that comes from that.
(Text on screen: Follow your passion. Find your skilled trade.)
Visual: Canada wordmark is shown on black background.
Apprentice Machinist testimonial
Transcript of the video
I understand there is a little bit of stigma with the trades. There's the older generation is retiring, and then there’s a need for skilled trades, and they do pay well. And I think people are now realizing that.
(Text on screen: Shawna, Machinist)
A lot of people go to university and stuff and they see the skilled trades as an alternative.
And I'll be honest, I didn't know what a machinist was a couple of years before I decided to go to school. I didn't know when I was growing up. Found out what it was and that's what I was meant to do. And I was right, I love it. But I would never have known that without exposure to the trades.
I've had nothing but positive reception since deciding to become a machinist.
(Text on screen: Follow your passion. Find your skilled Trades.)
(Text on screen: Portions of the footage used were recorded prior to the Government of Canada’s social distancing guidelines. Canadians should continue to respect COVID-19 safety guidelines.)
Visual: Canada wordmark is shown on white background.
How to join the skilled trades
There are different paths into the skilled trades. Explore the hands-on experience of becoming a skilled tradesperson and start your career journey.
Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship allows you to earn money while you learn and is a great path into a career in the skilled trades.
- As an apprentice, you learn the trade on the job under the supervision of experienced professionals (journeypersons). In addition, you take classes at a college or training centre. Find out how to become an apprentice with step-by step instructions.
Trade Experience
If you have skilled trade experience and training but did not complete an apprenticeship program, you may be eligible to be assessed. Based on this assessment, you may be able to write the trade certification exam as a “trade qualifier”.
- Each province and territory has its own licensing/certification requirements for trade qualifiers. Explore all of the Provincial and Federal Territorial Programs and Services available and find your own trade
Pre-apprenticeship
There are programs that can introduce you to the skills and techniques used in a skilled trade. Completing one of these programs may help you get hired as an apprentice. Find the programs and schools available to help realize your career goals.
Red Seal certification
Pass the Red Seal examination to receive a Red Seal. The Red Seal is a valuable professional credential, recognized across Canada as proof that a tradesperson has met the national standard in their trade. The Red Seal Program creates common standards and examinations for provinces and territories and covers 54 trades in Canada. Explore the Red Seal Trades and take your career where you want it to go.
Visit your provincial or territorial apprenticeship website to learn more about training and certification in your region.
Visit Job bank to explore the skilled trades and learn more about job requirements, career prospects, wages, and more.
Additional resources
- Search the Ellis Chart to compare apprentice training programs across Canada
- Visit Job Bank to find information on employment opportunities across Canada, as well as up-to-date labour market details
- Skills/Compétences Canada offers engaging and interactive experiences including the Skills Canada Competition
- Use the Essential Skills - Self Assessment for the Trades tool to learn about your skill strengths and opportunities for development
- The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy is a funding program that supports skilled trades workers and employers
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