Top 5 Skilled Trade Jobs in Canada in 2022

There is an urgent need for skilled trade professionals in almost every sector in Canada. The economy does not only depend on businessmen but also on skilled and unskilled workers such as farmworkers, truck drivers, and waiters. These people are considered to be the foundation on which large industries rely. No matter which sector you work in, your trade will be in demand in at least one of Canada’s provinces.

This is the perfect time for people planning to immigrate to Canada. With over 100 visa and immigration programs, foreign nationals are sure to find the procedure that works best for them. Statistics Canada reported that 54.7 thousand jobs were added to the Canadian economy job market in December 2021. This came after the fourth quarter of 2021 saw a record high of nearly 1 million new jobs. Two-thirds of these jobs were in the five industries listed below.

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1. Food Services and Accommodation

The top trade job vacancies under this category include refrigeration and conditioning mechanics, chef and cooks, as well as butchers. These jobs are in great demand in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. The average minimum wage for these opportunities would range between $35 – $38.17 per hour.

This industry has the highest shortage of workers in Canada. Other vacancies that are in high demand related to this industry include food and beverage servers, cleaners, and sanitizing specialists.

2. Social Assistance and Health Care

Currently, the number of vacancies in this sector is approximately 4,540. The top trade vacancies include maintenance technicians, electricians, and plumbers. The provinces of Quebec, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have a great demand for these skilled trade workers.

The average provincial minimum wage to be expected lies between $29.81 – $32.02 per hour. Although this is not a very popular sector, the effects of the pandemic have impacted the healthcare industry greatly.

Many medical facilities and hospitals rely heavily on maintenance trade workers to ensure all the equipment is working well. Similarly, sanitization specialists have also come into demand.

3. Construction jobs

In this trade industry, the top vacancies would include construction trade helpers and laborers, crane operators, contractors, and supervisors. The average minimum wage for these jobs would range from $25.81 – $27.14 per hour.

Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia are the provinces in which there is a high level of demand for skilled trade workers. Canada’s construction industry is growing continuously and is expected to expand greatly in the next few years.

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” – Oprah Winfrey, American Host

4. Retail Industry

As the pandemic eases up, the retail sector has started to pick up again. This is especially true for the online shopping and e-commerce industry. This means that as demand increases in the retail sector, so will the need for transport for the goods to arrive on time at retail outlets.

This means that there is a high demand for transport drivers as well as auto mechanics in this sector.

Currently, the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta have a high demand for transport truck drivers. The average provincial minimum wage for this job opportunity would range from $21.81 -$23.56 per hour.

5. Manufacturing sector

The top trade job vacancies include welders, carpenters, millwrights, and machine fitters. Manufacturers in almost every sector will require skilled trade workers to ensure that the demand for orders is met. They also need to make sure the machines function smoothly and the assembly lines are operating efficiently. Ontario and Manitoba are the provinces with the greatest demand with the average salary being $30.95 – $34.54 per hour.

Low-skilled Opportunities

If you do not have the qualifications for the above jobs or are not interested and looking for something else, you can apply for a low-skilled job which are great options as well. There are two types of low-skilled opportunities that you need to keep in mind- skill type C, which includes jobs that only require up to school or occupation-specific training. The other is skill type D, which includes opportunities for which on-the-job training is provided.

Here are some of the top low-skilled opportunities in Ontario:

(NOC code – Occupation – Average yearly salary)

7511 – Truck Driver – $70,228

6525 – Hotel Front Desk Clerks – $46,420

9462 – Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters – $42,495

6513 – Food and Beverage Servers – $32,448

8431 – General Farm Workers – $36,677

6312 – Executive Housekeepers – $57,947

8252 – Livestock Workers – $39,348

7237 – Welders – $49,243

0725 – Pipefitter – $72,019

7242 – Industrial Electrician – $81,089

Disclaimer: This information is time-bound and may change as per the demand and availability. Please check the official Canadian government website for the latest information and updates.