There are many reasons to learn a trade and get a union job, including being able to work in a variety of environments, being active, and earning a good wage with benefits. As the Canadian government further invests in the city through various infrastructure programs, there will be an increase in demand for skilled workers, and that means a greater opportunity to thrive and succeed in the industry.
The Current Landscape for Union Jobs
Whether you’re looking at career options as a professional painter, drywall finisher, glazier, hazmat or stucco worker, joining a union provides representation, safer workplaces, job security, better pay and benefits, and a sense of community.
The landscape for the skilled trades has also changed according to the times. According to a RBC report, skilled tradespeople will be in greater demand with mass shortages expected to support an abundance of work projects as 700,000 tradespeople get ready to retire within 5 years. That report further suggests that Canada will face a shortage of at least 10,000 workers in nationally recognized Red Seal trades during that time. And one quarter of the 4 million tradespeople will need to upskill to integrate digital tools into their training.
So, we’re seeing a situation that might be called a perfect storm. Retiring skilled tradespeople, declining enrollment and registration in the trades sector, an economic infrastructure recovery that is already seeing an increased demand for the trades but not enough people entering the industry. Add to that, there is underrepresentation by both immigrants and women in this sector. All in all, it’s an opportunity for people who are thinking about starting a career in the skilled trades, and who value the stability, consistency, and protection that union jobs provide.
The ‘Blue-Collar’ Stigma to Union Jobs No Longer Applies
Blue-collar trade and union jobs once thought of as unskilled, and underpaid are quite now the opposite. The earning potential of plumbers as an example far exceed many white-collar office jobs.
Technology has strongly impacted the sector. Trades are beginning to use virtual technology to diagnose on-site issues. Always connected to the hub through mobile digital devices, tradespeople now can access knowledge on the fly, on-site, order parts, and report project status in real time. While technical skills will never be replaced, they now have been enhanced with digital tools. As a tradesperson, skill, knowledge, and problem solving have become greater assets and requirements of the job, and training supports this.
New Opportunities for Union Jobs
Joining a trade union has never been more exciting. The choices and opportunities for union jobs are greater than they have ever been. Woman and immigrant populations can now get onboard with promises of equality. Training programs, even virtual ones, now provide tradespeople with new knowledge. Green technology, virtual diagnostics and digital tools have updated trades and given those who work in them new knowledge. By joining a painter’s and trade union, you’ll get the opportunity to train, develop your skills, earn competitive wages, and gain job security. Find out more about union jobs by contacting us today.
