- Find your skilled trade
- In-demand skilled trades
- Financial support
- How to join the skilled trades
- Find your skilled trade
- 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.
Visual: Canada wordmark is shown on black background.
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/pipefitters, 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, and machinists.
Visit Job bank to explore the skilled trades and learn more about job requirements, career prospects, wages, and more.
In-demand skilled trades across Canada
Over 256,000 new apprentices are needed over the next 5 years to meet demand in Canada.
In-demand Red Seal trades expected from 2022 to 2026:
-
Cook
Cook
-
Industrial Electrician
Industrial Electrician
-
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
-
Painter and Decorator
Painter and Decorator
-
Welder
Welder
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In-demand skilled trades by region*
-
Alberta
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Cook
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Welder
-
British Columbia
- Hairstylist
- Industrial Electrician
- Painter and Decorator
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
-
Manitoba
- Cook
- Industrial Electrician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Painter and Decorator
- Welder
-
New Brunswick
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Hairstylist
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Truck and Transport Mechanic
-
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
-
Northwest Territories
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
- Plumber
-
Nova Scotia
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Truck and Transport Mechanic
-
Nunavut
- Automotive Service Technician
- Cook
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
- Oil Heat System Technician
- Truck and Transport Mechanic
-
Ontario
- Cook
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Electrician
- Painter and Decorator
- Welder
-
Prince Edward Island
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Plumber
- Welder
-
Quebec
- Cook
- Hairstylist
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
- Plumber
-
Saskatchewan
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Welder
-
Yukon
- Automotive Service Technician
- Carpenter
- Construction Electrician
- Cook
- Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician
*The 5 trades per province and territory were chosen using the following sources:
- The Canadian Apprenticeship Forums’ (CAF) 5-year projections presented in the 2022 report Apprenticeship Demand in Red Seal Trades: a 2022 National Labour Market Information Report
- ESDC’s Employment Outlooks data
- The 2021 Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS)
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
Apprentice Machinist testimonial
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 learn the trade on the job under the direction of experienced professionals. In addition, you take classes at a college or training centre. Find out how to become an apprentice with step-by step instructions
Trade Experience
If you have skilled trade experience and training but did not complete an apprenticeship program, you may be eligible to be assessed. Based on this assessment, you may be able to write the trade certification exam as a “trade qualifier”.
- 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 Endorsem*nt. The Red Seal is a valuable professional credential, recognized across Canada as proof that a tradesperson has met the national standard in their trade. 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/Compétences 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
- The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy is a funding program that supports skilled trades workers and employers
