Career Planning
Experts weigh in on trades labour trendsThe economy is putting the crunch on the labour market, and the skilled trades are feeling some of the pain. SHARON ASCHAIEK -- Special to the Toronto Sun |
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The national economy shed 55,000 jobs in July -- the worst
single-month drop since the height of the early 1990s recession.
Compound the economic slowdown with demographic factors, such as the increasing number of retirement-ready workers and our lower birthrate, and you've got a tight labour market in every area.
"Long-term trends indicate ... severe labour shortages over the next 20 years in many sectors of the economy, including the skilled trades," says Len Crispino, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC).
The Construction Sector Council, a national organization that promotes the skilled trades, confirms this trend: in a recent report assessing the construction trades outlook from 2008 till 2016, it found that employment is expected to dip this year and next year.
"Major infrastructure projects requiring large teams of specialized trades, including larger institutional, industrial and engineering projects, may have trouble filling needs, especially within the smaller population centres ... the most important risk is a major U.S. recession and the likely decline in all investment expenditures, as well as construction," the report says.
The skilled trades, Crispino adds, have an added challenge in filling its ranks -- lingering misconceptions in society about the nature of trades work.
"The traditional skilled trades in particular suffer from a stigma among parents and often students, which is unworthy of the high wages and job security offered by these professions," he says.
Stalled growth in the softwood lumber and automotive industries have been among the key contributors to job losses in the trades, says Patrick Dillon, business manager and secretary treasurer of the Ontario Building and Construction Trades Council.
"When those industries go down and start closing plants or stop building new plants, we feel it -- it has a major impact on Ontario's economy," Dillon says.
As the province's residential housing market also starts to lose some steam, it will also likely affect trades people, Dillon says.
"I'm hearing that estimators, engineers and planners are starting to get laid off, and that spells bad news for contractors and work crews," Dillon says. "The lag is typically about one year to 18 months from when developers start cutting back to when construction workers start feeling the impact."
The council of which Dillon is a part is trying to ensure a thriving trades labour force in Ontario by raising the public profile of the trades, and encouraging employers to invest in better training their workers so as to increase employee retention. Also part of the council's approach is working to attract more women and minorities to the trades.
"We're moving past the old thinking in construction of 'you'd better fit in or you're out'," Dillon says. "There's a wealth of talent out there, and with the right kind of diversity sensitivity training, we can turn the page and create a more inclusive climate in the trades."
The council is also advocating that the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities implement compulsory certification of all the trades, and create a College of Trades, an all-trades governance institution similar to those overseeing other professions.
"If the government moves on this, it will be a major step forward -- it would be so dynamic for professionalizing the trades and increasing attraction and retention rates," Dillon says.
The OCC, meanwhile, is focusing on workforce development strategies in all sectors through its upcoming Ontario Economic Summit, and by participating in Ontario's Workforce Shortage Coalition, a group of business, education and labour leaders concerned about the province's skills shortage.
Crispino says what industry and government most need to focus on to boost skilled trades employment is to change its public perception.
"The No. 1 priority ... should be addressing the stigma facing the trades," Crispino says. "We'll always need people to build our homes, fix our cars and install our lights, and the investments we make today will help to ensure a strong future economy and workforce."
sharon@summitmediagroup.com
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