Fort McMurray - Alberta Labour Market Information

Job seekers should base their career choice on their interests, not by how much money can be made. Jobs in trades are physically demanding and an employee can work long hours—they should like what they’re doing.

A job in the trades has become a desirable position in the last few years in Alberta. But one of the major difficulties facing job seekers interested in getting a trade is figuring out how to navigate the process. It’s not always easy for job seekers to prove they are able to do the job, especially if they’re not sure which trade to pursue in the first place. Job seekers need to find an employer first, and then get schooling during their apprenticeship.

“Good research and understanding of the different career options is key,” says Alain Moore, public affairs advisor with Syncrude Canada Ltd. “Traditionally, youth understand university is a good place to start a good career—and that is a great choice—but we also want them to know that another good choice is trades. It’s a promising career path where they can have a rewarding career, both financially and personally.”

Working in the trades is not easy—jobs are generally physically demanding and there is often a lot of overtime, so a job seeker should like what they’re doing.

“There are 57 designated trades and occupations in Alberta, so if someone visits or brings in a résumé to an employer and simply says, ‘I want to be a welder,’ well they need to prove why,” says Deena Kress, associate regional director of the north region for Apprenticeship and Industry Training. “Why do you want to be a welder and what have you done to get to this point? Have you done your research? Do you know there is an apprenticeship program and it takes three years to become a journeyperson?”

Visit the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) website for more information on each trade and occupation (www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca). Another good resource is the Construction Sector Council’s website (www.careersinconstruction.ca). It gives introductory information on jobs in the construction industry and even includes videos from inside the industry and sections on apprenticeships, picking a career and choosing a career path.

An apprenticeship is a way to learn on-the-job skills while working and earning a wage at the same time. It can take one to five years to complete an apprenticeship program and become a certified journeyperson.

In many trades, apprentice wage rates are legislated as a percentage of journeyperson wages (See above chart). Also, to apprentice, a person needs to have completed Grade 12 or its equivalent. Some trades do not require Grade 12, but most employers expect it.

Once a job seeker has decided what trade they’d like to enter, the next task is to find an employer. Unlike other jobs, tradespeople find a job first and then go to school for periods of time between periods of employment.

Employers and job seekers connect in a number of different ways. Job seekers can visit employers they are interested in working with and start as an entry-level employee, such as a helper or labourer. For example, Four C’s Millwork in Fort McMurray starts untrained staff as labourers and if they’re successful, they can move up to an apprenticeship position.

“At the moment I have a lot of journeymen—it’s the apprentices we’re short of,” says Adrian Houston, manager at Four C’s Millwork. “It’s pretty hard to get people to stick around and go to school and work through their apprenticeship.”

Like other employers in the Wood Buffalo area, Four C’s Millwork may help pay for part of schooling and offer a living allowance while the apprentice is attending school. And if the employee stays with the company for over five years (including their apprenticeship), Four C’s will pay for their schooling.

Employers in the Wood Buffalo area are certainly interested in holding on to motivated and hardworking employees willing to learn—and even promote them. “What I hear from employers is they’re looking for somebody who has a good attitude—people can be trained and that’s exactly what we do as tradespeople, we train apprentices,” says Kress of AIT.

Job seekers can find employers in many of the traditional places that jobs are posted—online, in newspapers and by word of mouth. A good website to find apprenticeship opportunities is the Job Bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca). Job seekers should not narrow their search by looking for an “apprentice welder” or “carpenter helper.” Start by searching for the trade name (e.g. millwright) to discover what companies hire those positions. Even if the company is only hiring a journeyperson right now, it shows that they hire that occupation and at some point may need an apprentice.

There are also a couple of programs offered in the Wood Buffalo area that help connect job seekers and employers.

The Community Careers Apprenticeship Program (CCAP) helps students make the transition into an apprenticeship. Those accepted into the program are placed with employers on a rotating basis to gain experience and network with employers and mentors. For more information on this program, visit the Community Careers Cooperative (CCC) website at www.communitycareerscoop.org, or call a trades coordinator to schedule an appointment at (780) 792-5636. Another program is the Registered Apprentice Program (RAP) which connects high school students with employers by placing them with employers in their chosen trade. After the full two years in the program, students have enough hours and experience to take their first-year apprentice exam. Information on this program can be found on the CCC website, on www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca, or through local schools in Fort McMurray and surrounding communities.

An Alberta Employment and Immigration (AEI) program that helps match employers with job seekers without previous training is Workplace Training. AEI staff or service providers work with AIT to place the individual and then AIT works with the employer to make sure the employee is registered as an apprentice when ready. Visit the AEI website (employment.alberta.ca) for more information on this program or contact your local AEI or service provider office for more information (see page 4). There are many ways for job seekers to get into an apprenticeship and eventually become a journeyperson. A job seeker should choose the path that fits with their needs and situation and have fun building their career.

The information in this issue of Labour Market News was current as of the date shown. Employment outlook, salaries and educational programs may change. Please verify the information with additional sources before making career or business investment decisions. Contact us for more information.