Much has been said about the trades industry and how it’s an industry that solely relies on physical strength. However, if there’s anything that the pandemic made us realize is that those who work in the trades are essential workers and are the ones who work the hardest, making them valuable in any community. Without them, we would not have been able to survive the challenges brought about by the virus that affected all of us on a global scale.

These Jobs Are Essential

One of those who rally behind opposing the general idea that the trades industry is something to frown at is Mike Rowe, the star of the show “Dirty Jobs” on the Discovery Network. Rowe is extremely dedicated to the cause that he launched his own nonprofit organization that promotes training for skilled trades, like welders, plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, and auto repair technicians.

So far, the organization has awarded $5 million in scholarships over the last 12 years. Rowe was inspired by his grandfather who, although finished only seventh grade, was already a master electrician by the age of 30. Rowe strongly believes that people should do away with the notion that only those with four-year-degrees can lead to jobs with six-figure annual salaries. In addition, some of the famous billionaires today weren’t able to earn their degrees, including Michael Dell and Bill Gates, as well as the late Steve Jobs. As they say, for every rule, there is an exception.

It’s Not Just a Man’s World Anymore

Skilled trades in Canada are currently under a shortage of qualified workers as the younger generation continue to be lured into jobs that provide them with the convenience of being able to work at the comfort of their own homes. In these COVID-19 times, it has especially gotten more difficult to convince college- or university-bound students to carve their career path in skilled trades instead.

With this labour shortage in the skilled trades, BuildForce Canada reports that Ontario, in particular, will need to hire 103,900 in the construction and maintenance industries over the next decade as the Ontario government predicts that one in five new jobs in the province over the next five years is expected to be in the trades.

There’s no easy way filling in the gaps, but embracing the idea that women can also be instrumental in answering the labour shortage in the skilled trades industry is a good start. After all, the misconception that trades is merely for men is outdated as fax machines. And there are various organizations who are determined to break down these barriers, including the recently launched Women in Steel Toes or WIST. WIST has their own website and Facebook page where women share their experiences working in the trades, particularly in construction. They intend to inspire the younger female generation to consider career paths in the skilled trades, where they will have a plethora of options, something that wasn’t promoted before.

The Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology Training programs are also determined to further the cause of inspiring women to get into skilled trades. They provide free training for small groups of women in specific trades at various colleges throughout Ontario. The provincial government is a huge supporter of this, and one program, announced last fall, hopes to fund 24 women to receive training as horticultural technicians or arborists at Humber College. The federal government is not far behind with backing the idea as it also provided funding for a countrywide roll-out of an outreach for teen girls.

Brain Power

With the false impressions about the skilled trades industry slowly dissipating as the case should be, it’s interesting to note that these fallacies have little basis in the first place.

For example, working in construction is no mean feat, and it’s not merely about physical strength or endurance. A construction worker has to be an excellent problem solver or how else can you erect a building from nothing at all?

Other skilled trades work like plumbing and electrical requires an impeccable sense of attention to detail, otherwise all homeowners will see are flooded bathrooms and faulty electricity wiring.

Skilled trades require mental prowess and physical dexterity, and those who are up for a challenge can truly feel at home in this career path.

SOURCES:

https://www.equipmentjournal.com/on-the-job/women-in-steel-toes-aims-to-normalize-women-on-jobsites/

https://www.tvo.org/article/you-wouldnt-be-interested-in-that-fighting-stereotypes-about-women-in-the-trades

https://www.narcity.com/en-ca/news/ontario-is-begging-for-skilled-trade-workers-and-is-looking-to-give-free-education-to-get-1200-people-in-the-workforce

https://www.startribune.com/dirty-jobs-host-will-make-the-case-for-hands-on-work-at-home-garden-show/568081402/

https://www.leaderonomics.com/articles/leadership/why-it-pays-to-get-your-hands-dirty