Perceptions of trades training gaining traction over university
Canada faces a shortage of workers in the skilled trades, resulting in part from persistent labour-market demand driven by activity in construction, manufacturing, transportation and related industries, combined with the aging population. Research has indicated that recruitment of young people into the skilled trades is hampered in part by the stigma and stereotypes that suggest that jobs in the trades are low-skill and low-paid, with few opportunities for advancement. These roles are also highly gendered with women being significantly under-represented.
The latest wave of the Survey on Employment and Skills asked Canadians to think about what advice they would give to a young person regarding their career path. Specifically, they were asked whether they would encourage a child to enroll in a job-oriented trade school or apprenticeship program, or a general university program.
Key insights
A growing proportion of Canadians would recommend trades training over a university program. Three in five (59%) said they would encourage the child to opt for a job-oriented trade school, twice as many as the proportion that would recommend a general university program (26%).
68 percent of those who pursued trades or apprenticeship training would advise a child to choose that type of training rather than a general university program. However, university graduates are also more likely to recommend trades training than a general university degree.
The North stands out for its strong confidence in post-secondary education — 80% disagree that going to college or university is a waste of time, compared to 65% in Quebec, 63% in Newfoundland and Labrador, and just 59% in Alberta. Only 18% in the North agree, far below levels seen in the Maritimes (43%) or B.C. (41%)
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