If you love to shape the world around you, a Skilled Trades and Transportation program will give you the foundation for a fulfilling future. Communities are built by passionate tradespeople like you and we’re honoured to be working together to put the finishing touches on your career.
Salary Expectations
| Job Title | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Automotive Mechanic | $17.24 - $42.00 |
| Construction Manager | $26.44 - $72.12 |
| Construction Worker | $17.20 - $38.00 |
| Contractor | $24.04 - $48.08 |
| Electrician | $18.60 - $50.00 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $22.00 - $45.00 |
| Industrial Electrician | $28.00 - $47.00 |
| Machine Shop Supervisor | $27.00 - $50.00 |
| Machinist | $19.60 - $36.18 |
| Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $18.00 - $32.00 |
| Millwright/Industrial Mechanic | $20.50 - $44.00 |
| Truck and Coach Mechanic | $17.24 - $42.00 |
| Welder | $19.00 - $38.50 |
The provincial government estimates there will be a shortage of 350,000 people required for skilled trades by 2025.*
*Source: Skilled Trades Ontario
Labour Market Conditions
Automotive Mechanic
Job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2022-2031 period in Canada, with 54,000 expected new job openings and 44,800 new job seekers expected to be available to fill them.
The employment outlook in Ontario from 2023-2025 will be good with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and a moderate number of positions becoming available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Steady growth in the number of motor vehicles will support demand for automotive repair and maintenance work, and an elevated demand for trucking services will add work for truck mechanics. Main employers for this occupation are automotive repair and maintenance shops and automobile dealerships. 32% of workers in this occupation have a college certificate or diploma with 39% holding an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma.
Construction Manager
Job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2022-2031 period in Canada.
Ontario’s employment outlook will be good from 2023-2025, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and a moderate number of positions becoming available due to retirements. Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period, supporting work for construction managers.
Large infrastructure investments in transit, health care, utilities, and manufacturing, plus a steady demand and investments in new housing will also support employment growth. Most in this group work in construction as specialty trade contractors, or in heavy and civil engineering construction. Self-employment is common for this occupation with 33% self-employed compared to a 15% average for all occupations.
Construction Worker
New job openings in Canada through 2031 are expected to total 19,600 with 17,900 new job seekers expected to be available to fill them. The balance between labour supply and demand is expected to continue through the projection period.
Ontario’s employment outlook will be moderate through 2025, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions. Not many positions will become available due to retirements. There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. Approximately 48,600 people work in this occupation. Most work in the construction sector, with 44% in this occupation group working year round.
Contractor
Although this occupational group has had a balanced market in Canada in recent years, projected job openings are expected to be substantially higher than job seekers, creating a shortage of workers over the 2022-2031 period. Ontario’s employment outlook will be moderate, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions, but several positions will become available due to retirements. The majority of this occupation (83%) work in the construction sector, and 91% work full-time compared to 79% for all occupations. Compared to an average of 12% for all occupations, 51% of this group are self-employed.
Electrician
Although this occupational group has had a balanced market in recent years in Canada, projected job openings are expected to be substantially higher to job seekers, creating a shortage of workers in the 2022-2031 period. New job openings are expected to total 45,600 while 37,200 new job seekers are expected to be available to fill them.
In Ontario, job prospects are expected to be moderate, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions. Not many positions will become available due to retirements. Most in this group work in construction, mainly as building equipment contractors. Employment growth will benefit from large infrastructure investments and new housing developments to meet population growth in some of the province’s largest urban centres.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
The balance in Canada between labour supply and demand seen in recent years is expected to continue through 2031, with 25,000 new job openings expected and 22,800 new job seekers to be able to fill them.
The employment outlook in Ontario through 2025 will be moderate with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and a moderate number of positions becoming available due to retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. Favourable levels of construction activity led by infrastructure investments in transit, power, and highways and bridges will support service and maintenance work for heavy-duty equipment mechanics, plus the demand for new housing to meet population growth including the construction of multi-unit buildings in some of Ontario’s largest urban centres.
Investments in manufacturing and mining may create opportunities at wholesalers of new and used equipment. The continuous need to service equipment in farming, forestry, waste management and snow clearing will also bring employment growth. While this occupation group is employed across various industries, the largest number is employed in machinery and equipment wholesale, construction, and repair and maintenance services, with a smaller number working in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
Industrial Electrician
Labour demand and labour supply are expected to be broadly in line for this occupation group through 2031, with 16,700 new job openings expected and 15,000 new job seekers expected to be able to fill them.
Job prospects will be very good in Ontario with employment growth leading to several new positions and several positions becoming available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. Employment can be found with manufacturers, mainly motor vehicle and parts, steel mills, and food producers, building equipment contractors and metal ore mining companies. Opportunities to support upgrades and maintenance of electrical equipment in the province’s large manufacturing base and investments in mining operations will lead to employment growth.
Machine Shop Supervisor
Job openings and job seekers in Canada are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2022-2031 period.
The employment outlook will be good for 2023-2025 with employment growth in Ontario leading to a moderate number of new positions and several positions becoming available from retirements. Workers in this occupation mainly work in the following five sectors: fabricated metal product manufacturing, construction, machinery manufacturing, motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing, and repair and maintenance. 27% of this group are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations. The most common educational attainments for these workers is 35% with an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma and 27% with a college certificate or diploma.
Machinist
The balance seen in recent years is expected to continue in Canada through 2031, with 14,00 new job openings expected, while 12,100 new job seekers are expected to be available to fill them.
The employment outlook in Ontario from 2023-2025 will be good with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and several positions becoming available due to retirements. Investments in the automotive industry may boost activity in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing, and employment growth may also be from the need for fabricated metal goods to support investments in construction, power generation, and aerospace manufacturing. Manufacturers, particularly in machine shops are the main employer for this occupation.
Metal Fabricator and Fitter
Labour market conditions for Canada are unavailable.
The employment outlook in Ontario will be moderate, with employment growth leading to a few new positions. Not many positions will become available due to retirements. For this occupation, work can mainly be found in the fabricated metal product manufacturing sector, construction sector, machinery manufacturing sector, primary metal manufacturing sector, and miscellaneous manufacturing sector.
Millwright/Industrial Mechanic
Although the labour shortage conditions seen in recent years for this occupation in Canada were expected to be temporary, the projected number of job seekers is not expected to be large enough to return this occupation to balance conditions in the 2022-2031 period. As a result, the shortage conditions will become more structural, continuing through 2031. New job openings are expected to total 35,900, while 34,000 new job seekers are expected to be available to fill them.
The employment outlook for Ontario will be moderate through 2025, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and several positions coming from retirements. The main trends affecting employment include favourable levels of construction, investments in manufacturing, mining and nuclear power generation in Ontario, and the ongoing need to service and maintain equipment across various industries. Employment is mainly found with manufacturers and construction firms. The main sectors are motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing, construction, food and beverage and tobacco product manufacturing, utilities, and repair and maintenance.
Truck and Coach Mechanic
Job openings and job seekers are projected to be at relatively similar levels over the 2022-2031 period in Canada, with 54,000 expected new job openings and 44,800 new job seekers expected to be available to fill them.
The employment outlook in Ontario from 2023-2025 will be good with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and a moderate number of positions becoming available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Steady growth in the number of motor vehicles will support demand for automotive repair and maintenance work, and an elevated demand for trucking services will add work for truck mechanics. Main employers for this occupation are automotive repair and maintenance shops and automobile dealerships. 32% of workers in this occupation have a college certificate or diploma with 39% holding an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma.
Welder
The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years is expected to persist in Canada into the 2022-2031 period. New job openings are expected to total 17,700 while 16,800 new job seekers are expected to be available to fille them.
The 2023-2025 employment outlook in Ontario will be moderate with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and a moderate number of positions from retirements. Investments in the automotive industry may boost activity in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing. Steady levels of construction led by investments in transit, power, and highways and bridges, as well as multi-unit housing developments will support opportunities in construction and the demand for metal building materials. Ongoing activities to repair and upgrade existing buildings and infrastructure and service equipment will also support employment for this occupational group.