Over the last decade or so, there have been many studies and surveys done on the skilled trades in Canada. Ranging from the number of people needed to the specific skills required – these surveys offer valuable insights into the skilled trades industry. Currently, Canada faces a severe shortage of skilled trade workers and it is predicted that a Fourth Industrial Revolution will call for more skilled workers.
According to the Government of Canada website, over 700,000 skilled tradespeople are expected to retire by 2028. An RBC report on the skilled trades, also states that in the next 5 years, 25% of Canada’s 4 million tradespeople will need to upgrade their skills. The same report states that during this time, Canada will face a shortage of 10,000 workers in the Red Seal Trades (such as painting, plumbing, landscaping, roofing and more) – however, this number increases tenfold when we take into account the 250 provincially regulated trades.
While in the longer run, Canada does face a shortage of skilled workers, in the near future, it is the changing economic conditions that have caused a temporary slowdown in homeowners taking up home renovation projects. As Canadians become more cautious about discretionary spending, it becomes more important to upgrade your trade skills to turn every opportunity into a project.
In these challenging times, here’s how you can improve your trade skills while working on projects simultaneously:
Enroll In College Courses For Further Studies
Many colleges across the country offer part-time courses for skill development. The Government of Canada also offers financial aid to skilled trade workers who are keen on upgrading their skills. Depending on your line of work and location, you can find a college that offers short-term programs with flexible schedules to get hands-on training. These part-time courses are ideal as they offer an adaptable schedule which also accommodates your ongoing and new projects. The college programs also come with their own certificates of completion, which can be useful in gaining the trust of homeowners. Diplomas and degrees from reputed colleges go a long way in establishing your business and your expertise.
Get Certificates That Vouch For Your Trade Skills
Getting certifications that are offered in your line of work, is a convenient and effective way of upgrading your skills. While certifications do require a fair bit of hard work, they are also the best way to showcase the recent skills acquired. Certificates like those of Red Seal are valid throughout the country and make your profile stand out and add credibility to your business. If you are in a business that involves technology, it is all the more important to stay updated – and certificates from online or offline courses or even administrative bodies can help homeowners understand that you are on top of the game! You can showcase these certificates on your profile by creating a new gallery, titled ‘Certificates’. You can also add the certificate details to your listing information while filling out the complete profile.
Sign Up For Training Programs
Many provincial and federal training programs are now in effect, to better prepare Canada’s workforce for the days to come. Apart from working on core trade skills, the Government has also invested in developing training programs such as Skills Canada, for other skills like communication, collaboration, problem-solving and more, which will ultimately help you close that gap between getting an opportunity and closing it. There is Government-funded training which will help you develop core skills and more and you can also opt for independent training programs that you think might be relevant to your business.
If you still have questions about how to display these credentials, you can get in touch with your Dedicated Customer Success Manager!
