There is a lot of talk right now about the future of work. AI is getting better at doing jobs many of us once thought needed a person sitting behind a desk. At the same time, someone still needs to wire the building, install the furnace, repair the equipment, weld the steel and keep everything running.
That has put a new spotlight on the skilled trades. You will even hear people talking about tradespeople becoming the next generation of millionaires.
There is definitely opportunity out there, but before you start shopping for a new truck based on your future welding career, there are a few things worth knowing.
First, there is no single career called “the trades.”
Choosing to become a plumber can give you a very different career from becoming a welder. Refrigeration is different from electrical. Sheet metal is different again. They require different skills, come with different working conditions and can lead you in very different directions.
If you are thinking about getting into the trades in Alberta, the question should not just be, “Which one pays the most?”
A better question is, “Which one am I going to be good at?”
Start With Where the Work Is
There are plenty of trades to choose from in Alberta, but demand is not the same across all of them.
Construction, energy, manufacturing, residential services and industrial operations all need skilled people. Electricians, plumbers, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, sheet metal workers, welders, and heavy equipment technicians are just some of the careers you will see when you start looking.
Before you choose, spend some time looking at what is actually happening in Alberta.
Which trades are employers hiring for? What does the outlook look like five years from now? Are there opportunities where you want to live, or does most of the work require you to travel?
The trade everyone was talking about five years ago may not be the one with the best opportunities five years from now.
Like Solving Problems? Take a Look at Refrigeration and HVAC
If you like figuring out why something is not working, refrigeration and air conditioning might get your attention.
There is a lot more to HVAC than installing furnaces.
You are dealing with mechanical equipment, electrical components, controls, pressures, temperatures and refrigeration systems. Sometimes the problem is obvious. Sometimes you are the person everyone is looking at while you try to figure out why a piece of equipment has decided it no longer wants to cooperate.
You also need math.
That surprises some people.
If your plan for getting into the trades was to never look at another calculation again, refrigeration may have some bad news for you.
There can also be long days, on-call work and some very cold service calls. A furnace rarely checks your schedule before deciding to quit in January.
For someone who likes troubleshooting and wants a trade that mixes hands-on work with technical knowledge, though, that challenge can be exactly what makes the job interesting.
Plumbing Is a Lot More Than Clogged Toilets
Mention plumbing and someone will eventually make a toilet joke.
Plumbers know there is a lot more to the trade than that.
Plumbing can take you into residential construction, commercial buildings, renovations, service work and large mechanical systems. You need to understand piping systems, drawings, measurements, codes and how different parts of a building work together.
It can be physical. You will not always be working somewhere clean and comfortable.
But people will always need water, drainage and functioning mechanical systems. That makes plumbing a trade worth looking at if you want skills that can take you in several directions.
Electrical Is for People Who Like Details
If you like systems, troubleshooting and figuring out how things connect, electrical may be worth exploring.
But do not assume it is simply a matter of learning which wire goes where.
Electricians need math, electrical theory and a strong understanding of codes and safety. The work has to be precise because electricity does not give you much room for guessing.
Electrical work can also take you into very different environments. You might work in residential construction, commercial buildings, industrial facilities or specialized systems.
There are a lot of directions the trade can take you.
Welding Looks Cool. It Is Also Hard Work.
Welding is one of those trades that can look pretty great from the outside.
Sparks flying. Steel coming together. You can actually stand back at the end of the day and see what you built.
There is a reason people love it.
There is also heat, protective gear, awkward positions and plenty of physical work.
Professional welding requires far more skill than simply being able to run a nice bead. You need to understand materials, measurements, drawings and welding processes. The type of work can also vary enormously between a fabrication shop, a construction project and field work.
If welding interests you, find a welder and ask what the job is really like.
Preferably one who has been doing it long enough to give you the whole story.
Do Not Forget About Sheet Metal
Sheet metal does not always get the same attention as plumbing or electrical, but it can be a great fit for someone who likes making things.
Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble and install systems and components used in HVAC, commercial buildings and industrial projects.
There is math and layout work involved. There is fabrication. There is installation. You may work with large equipment and see a project go from a flat piece of material to something installed and working in a building.
If you like building things and want a mix of shop and field skills, put it on your list to investigate.
About That Millionaire Thing
There is real money to be made in the skilled trades. There are also tradespeople who have taken their skills, started companies, hired teams and built businesses worth a lot of money.
But becoming a journeyperson does not come with a millionaire starter kit.
The people behind those stories usually spent years learning their trade. Then they learned how to deal with customers, estimate jobs, manage people, understand finances and run a company. They took risks and built something on top of their trade.
A trade can give you an excellent foundation. Where you take it from there is another story.
Do Your Homework Before You Pick
There is no single “best trade,” and which trades are in demand can change. What is needed in Grande Prairie can also be very different from what employers are looking for elsewhere in Alberta or Canada.
Fortunately, you do not have to guess.
ALIS Alberta Occupational Profiles lets you explore Alberta careers and compare wages, working conditions, education requirements and employment outlooks.
The Government of Canada Job Bank provides labour market information, wages and job outlooks across Canada. You can also use its Job Outlooks tool to research specific occupations and regions.
Once a trade catches your attention, Alberta Tradesecrets is the place to learn how the apprenticeship works, how long the program takes and what you need to become certified.
If you are interested in construction trades specifically, BuildForce Canada’s Labour Market Corner provides current information on construction employment and labour market trends.
Spend some time with the numbers, but then go talk to people who actually do the work.
Ask the refrigeration mechanic what being on call during a cold snap is really like. Ask the electrician how much math they use. Ask the welder about the physical side of the job. Ask a journeyperson what they wish they had known when they started.
Then ask the question that might tell you the most:
“If you were starting again, would you choose the same trade?”
Find the Trade That Fits You
There is a lot of opportunity in Alberta’s skilled trades, but a good career is about more than chasing whichever trade happens to be paying the most right now.
Look at demand. Look at wages. Think about the physical work, training, hours and lifestyle. Then find out what the job is actually like from someone who does it every day.
