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CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN THE SKILLED TRADES AND THE DEMAND FOR THE RED

SEAL IN THE LABOUR MARKET

Red Seal journeypersons pursue different occupations over the course of their careers, according to a CAF-FCA survey with 754 respondents. During their careers, 39 per cent of journeypersons held supervisory positions as forepersons, 31 per cent were business owners, 26 per cent held union positions, 24 per cent were either trainers or college instructors and 23 per cent were managers. Employers also identified in a CAF-FCA survey they hire certified journeypersons as construction managers (4.2 per cent), accountants (3.6 per cent) and supervisors (2.2 per cent).

Figure 1-Related Journeyperson Occupations

Source: N=663 Multiple responses were accepted for this question.

See the CAF-FCA reports entitled, The Benefits of a Skilled Trades Career: Journeyperson Perspectives and Experiences and Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications: Employer Hiring Preferences in the Skilled Trades.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Forepersons

Business Owners

Union Positions

Trainers

College Instructors

Managers

Other

Salespersons, etc...

39%

31%

26%

24%

24%

23%

13%

5%

CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN THE SKILLED TRADES AND THE DEMAND FOR THE RED

SEAL IN THE LABOUR MARKET CONT.

High schools, colleges, unions and employers may experience recruiting challenges as Red Seal journeypersons in related occupations retire and there are not enough certified journeypersons to replace them.

THE BOTTOM L INE

TRADEEmployment Certification

Demand (principal trade)

Replacement Certification

Demand (principal trade)

Related Certification

Demand

Total Certification

Demand

Auto Service Technician 1,796 4,519 2,438 8,754

Carpenter (643) 4,449 3,661 7,466

Construction Electrician 2,553 6,472 4,254 13,279

Cook 768 1,147 3,075 4,990

Hairstylist 2,048 4,117 1,068 7,233

Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician 653 2,378 1,578 4,610

Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) 2,411 4,182 743 7,336

Plumber 889 2,267 1,140 4,296

Steamfitter/Pipefitter 692 1,375 651 2,718

Welder 1,555 3,651 1,096 6,301

Total 12,722 34,556 19,704 66,982

When thinking about future skills shortages, the Red Seal requirement in many related occupations increases overall demand. The Canadian System for Tracking Apprenticeship Qualifications (CANTRAQ) CANTRAQ estimates the certification demand for principal and related occupations will total 66,982 between 2019 and 2023.

Figure 2- Certification Requirements for the Top 10 Red Seal Trades between 2019 and 2023

Source: Prism Economics and Analysis, CANTRAQ