Discover the skilled trades
- Find your skilled trade
- Top in-demand skilled trades
- Financial support
- How to join the skilled trades
Skilled trades are in high demand, rewarding, and essential to communities across Canada. Choosing a career in the skilled trades gives you the freedom to turn what you love into what you do.
Follow your passion
Discover which skilled trade is best for you! Earn money while you learn a skilled trade and kick-start a lifelong career that is well-paid, in-demand, and respected.
Career Quiz
Find out what career might be right for you!Promotional video
Transcript of the video
Recently, someone you know may have picked up a new interest.
Like cooking.
Or...
...building things?
And maybe they just need a push…
…in the right direction.
Learning a skilled trade can turn what they love...
...into what they do.
Discover the skilled trades.
Funding is available. Visit canada.ca/skilled-trades
(Text on screen: Funding is available. Canada.ca/skilled-trades)
A message from the government of Canada.
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Find your skilled trade
The skilled trades are 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 can have a Red Seal Trade designation. Generally, skilled tradespeople work in one of these sectors:
Construction is a multi-billion-dollar industry in Canada that offers high demand careers. It features electricians, carpenters, plumbers, steamfitters/pipefitter, welders, heavy equipment operators, and painters, among other trades.
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, motorcycle technicians, and more.
Manufacturing and Industrial features careers in many different manufacturing sectors, including automotive (parts and vehicle manufacturing), product manufacturing, and the resource extraction and processing industries. Manufacturing trades include tool and die makers, industrial mechanics (millwrights), metal fabricators, and more.
The Services sector is a major industry in the Canadian economy and includes cooks, bakers, hairstylists, landscape horticulturists, and more.
Information and Digital Technology skills are central to many trades including instrumentation and control technicians, machinists, and crane operators.
Visit Job bank to explore the skilled trades and learn more about job requirements, career prospects, wages, and the like.
Top in-demand skilled trades across Canada
Over 256,000 new apprentices are needed over the next 5 years to meet demand in Canada.
Top in-demand skilled trades expected from 2022 to 2026:
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Cook
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Industrial Electrician
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Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
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Painter and Decorator
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Welder
Top in-demand skilled trades by region
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Alberta
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Cook
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Painter and Decorator
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Atlantic Canada
- Carpenter
- Cook
- Hairstylist
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Electrician
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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British Columbia
- Hairstylist
- Industrial Electrician
- Painter and Decorator
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Manitoba
- Cook
- Industrial Electrician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Painter and Decorator
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Ontario
- Cook
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Electrician
- Painter and Decorator
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Quebec
- Hairstylist
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Plumber
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Saskatchewan
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
Source: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2022). Apprentice Demand in Red Seal Trades: A 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
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Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Electrician
- Welder
Source: BuildForce Canada (2022) Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward: Canada’s Territories: Highlights 2022 to 2027
Financial Support
We provide financial support so you can fully concentrate on learning your skilled trade. There is funding available to help you complete your training in a Red Seal trade. In addition, there is help for employers to support the apprentices they hire and train.
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.)
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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.)
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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
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 take classes and learn a trade by working on the job under the direction of experienced workers. Find out how to become an apprentice with step-by step instructions
Assessment as a trade qualifier
If you are experienced in a trade, you may be eligible to have your work experience and/or training in a skilled trade assessed. Based on this assessment, you may receive certification.
- Each province and territory has its own certification requirements for trade qualifiers. Explore all of the Provincial and Federal Territorial Programs and Services available and find your own trade
Pre-trades programs
Pre-trades programs offer you a well-rounded look at the techniques used across a variety of skilled trades.
- 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
What comes next
Pass the Red Seal examination to receive a Red Seal Endorsement (RSE). The RSE is a highly valuable professional designation that allows you to practice your trade anywhere in Canada. 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.
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 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
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