If you love to shape the world around you, a Skilled Trades and Transportation program will give you the foundation for a fulfilling future. Communities are built by passionate tradespeople like you and we’re honoured to be working together to put the finishing touches on your career.
Salary Expectations
| Job Title | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Automotive Mechanic | $18.00 - $43.00 |
| Construction Manager | $27.00 - $79.33 |
| Construction Worker | $18.00 - $40.00 |
| Contractor | $27.00 - $48.08 |
| Electrician | $19.00 - $50.41 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $20.00 - $47.00 |
| Industrial Electrician | $29.00 - $48.09 |
| Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $19.75 - $33.65 |
| Millwright/Industrial Mechanic | $22.00 - $45.00 |
| Plumber | $20.00 - $50.00 |
| Truck and Coach Mechanic | $18.00 - $43.00 |
| Welder | $21.00 - $39.59 |
Welder
Salary expectations for welders in Canada increase with education, apprenticeship training, skills, and experience. Income can vary based on factors like apprenticeship training, work location, and specialization within the trade.* Welders who earn a Red Seal and are a qualified journeyperson will have more opportunity for higher wages, secure employment, and career advancement.**
Unionized positions often include additional income such as vacation pay, pension contributions, and health benefits. Under the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA), Local 800 – Zone 2, which includes Sault Ste. Marie, apprentice welders earn a percentage of the journeyperson rate. First-year apprentices earn around $35/hr, secondyear $49/hr, and third-year $60/hr, while journeyperson welders receive a total compensation of $70.58/hr. All amounts include base wage, vacation pay, and other allowances, as of May 2024.***
* Randstad Canada
** The Red Seal Program
*** UA Local 800 - Zone 2 (Sault Ste. Marie) Collective Agreement
Labour Market Conditions
Automotive Mechanic
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. The employment outlook in Ontario from 2024-2026 will be good with employment growth leading to several new positions and a moderate number of positions will become available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Steady growth in the number of motor vehicles will support demand for automotive repair and maintenance work, and an elevated demand for truck maintenance services will add work for truck mechanics. Main employers for this occupation are automotive repair and maintenance shops and automobile dealerships. Approximately 46,950 people work in this occupation in the province.
Construction Manager
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. Ontario’s employment outlook will be good through 2026, with employment growth leading to several new positions and a moderate number of positions becoming available due to retirements.
Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period, supporting work for construction managers. Large infrastructure investments, plus a steady demand and investments in new housing are some of the main trends affecting employment for this occupation. With approximately 29,200 people working in this occupation, most work in construction, as specialty trade contractors, or in heavy and civil engineering construction. Self-employment is also common, with 33% self-employed in Ontario, compared to a 15% average for all occupations.
Construction Worker
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. In Ontario, the employment outlook will be good through 2026, with employment growth leading to several new positions. Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
Main trends affecting employment include, construction activity expected to be favourable across Ontario, large infrastructure investments, and steady demand and investments in new housing. Approximately 48,600 people work in this occupation, with the majority in the construction industry, with a significant share in residential building construction. A smaller number work in manufacturing, such as in cement and concrete product operations
Contractor
Labour demand and supply in Canada through 2033 are expected to be broadly in line for this occupation. The employment outlook will be good in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period. Employment growth will lead to several new positions, while a moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements. There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
In Ontario, 23,600 people work in this occupation, with the majority employed in the construction sector (79%). Self-employed workers in this occupation is high at 67%.
Electrician
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage through 2033 in Canada. In Ontario, the employment outlook will be moderate, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions, but not many positions will become available due to retirements. There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Most in this group work in construction, mainly as building equipment contractors. Trends affecting employment include large infrastructure investments and new housing developments to meet population growth in some of the province’s largest urban centres. Approximately 38,950 people work in this occupation, with 47% having completed an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma, with 30% having completed a college certificate or diploma.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
This occupation is expected to face a strong risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. The employment outlook in Ontario through 2026 will be moderate with employment growth leading to a moderate number of both new positions and positions becoming available due to retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Favourable levels of construction activity led by infrastructure investments in transit, power, and highways and bridges will support service and maintenance work for heavy-duty equipment mechanics, plus the demand for new housing to meet population growth including the construction of multi-unit buildings in some of Ontario’s largest urban centres. Investments in manufacturing and mining may create opportunities at wholesalers of new and used equipment. The continuous need to service equipment in farming, forestry, waste management and snow clearing is another trend that will affect employment. In northern Ontario, the mining industry is a major source of work for mechanics.
Industrial Electrician
In Canada, this occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage from 2024-33. The employment outlook in Ontario will be moderate from 2024-26, with employment growth leading to a few new positions and several positions becoming available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Employment can be found with manufacturers, mainly motor vehicle and parts, steel mills, and food producers, building equipment contractors and metal ore mining companies. Opportunities to support upgrades and maintenance of electrical equipment in the province’s large manufacturing base and investments in mining operations will be the main trends affecting employment for this occupation. Approximately 14,850 people work in this occupation in Ontario.
Metal Fabricator and Fitter
Labour demand and labour supply are expected to be broadly in line for this occupation over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. The employment outlook in Ontario will be moderate, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and several positions coming from retirements. There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Approximately 2,200 people work in this occupation in May 2021 in Ontario, and they mainly work in the Fabricated metal product manufacturing sector, Construction sector, Machinery manufacturing sector, Primary metal manufacturing sector, and Miscellaneous manufacturing sector.
Millwright/Industrial Mechanic
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. Ontario's employment outlook through 2026 will be moderate, with employment growth leading to a moderate number of new positions and several positions coming from retirements. There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
The main trends affecting employment include favourable levels of construction, investments in manufacturing, mining and nuclear power generation in Ontario, and the ongoing need to service and maintain equipment across various industries. Employment is mainly found with manufacturers and construction firms. With 36,750 people working in this occupation in the province, the main areas include five sectors: Motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing, Construction, Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing, Utilities, and Repair and maintenance.
Plumber
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level.
In Ontario, the employment outlook for plumbers is rated good for 2024-2026. Employment growth will lead to several new positions, while not many positions will become available due to retirements. There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Main trends affecting employment include population growth, leading to increased demand for residential housing construction and repair services, infrastructure investments in public goods such as municipal piping systems and large scale transit projects, and educational and healthcare facilities. A shift towards more water-efficient plumbing systems should create demand for plumbers to replace older equipment with new integrated fixtures. Approximately 18,250 people work in this occupation in Ontario, with 91% working in the Construction sector.
Truck and Coach Mechanic
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. The employment outlook in Ontario from 2024-2026 will be good with employment growth leading to several new positions and a moderate number of positions will become available from retirements. There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Steady growth in the number of motor vehicles will support demand for automotive repair and maintenance work, and an elevated demand for truck maintenance services will add work for truck mechanics. Main employers for this occupation are automotive repair and maintenance shops and automobile dealerships. Approximately 46,950 people work in this occupation in the province.
Welder
This occupation is expected to face a moderate risk of labour shortage over the period of 2024-2033 at the national level. The 2024-26 employment outlook in Ontario will be moderate with employment growth leading to a moderate number of both new positions and positions from retirements.
Steady levels of construction led by investments in transit, power, and highways and bridges, as well as multi-unit housing developments, will support opportunities in construction and the demand for metal building materials. Some main trends affecting employment include ongoing activities to repair and upgrade existing buildings and infrastructure and service equipment and opportunities to support Ontario's large manufacturing base. However, during the forecast period, some workers in this occupation are expected to be negatively impacted by the shift to electric vehicle production by automakers. Approximately 25,200 people in Ontario work in this occupation.