Skilled trades: the overlooked path to global employment

In this article we will investigate new research from HomeStarsthe home service recruitment platform, which highlights the awareness gap around trade careers, including the potential they offer for international work and relocation.

Canadians interested in a career with international mobility

Among the Canadian workforce aged 18 to 34, the survey found that almost six in 10 adults are interested in a career that allows them to work abroad (mainly to Europe or Australia) on a work visa. The survey also found that 49% of all Canadian adults were interested in a career that offered opportunities to work abroad.

If you’re curious about regional views, you might be interested to hear that Ontario residents (followed closely by Québec) were most interested in jobs with travel opportunities. Nearly 50% of Ontarians said they would explore work options that allowed emigration. Although the study did not mention motives for emigration, it is worth pointing out that these are two provinces with the highest cost of living in Canada.

How a skilled trade can unlock international employment opportunities

It is a myth that skilled trades jobs do not allow you to travel, and that you will be limited to working in the province where you trained. As Colleen McGrory of HomeStars notes, “Skilled workers are in high demand around the world. It’s not just Canada that has a skilled worker shortage.”

According to the American Institute for Quality more than a third of skilled workers in many countries around the world people are over 50 years old. These industries are not training enough young people to replace these skilled workers when they retire.

Fortunately, this workforce shortage can work to your advantage if you’re hoping to relocate for work. But unfortunately, only half of young people are aware that skilled trade jobs offer them the opportunity to emigrate. McGrory says the HomeStars survey exposes the gap between Canadians’ career goals and awareness of the opportunities available with skilled trades.

She says, “Our research shows that the majority of young people are interested in emigrating, but more than half are not aware that the profession offers that opportunity. It appears that more education is needed to inform Canadians about the opportunities that this type of work brings.”

Consider these tradespeople who travel well: electricians can be hired for international infrastructure projects, HVAC technicians can work in fast-growing climates, or welders can be chosen for shipbuilding or energy projects abroad. And there may be competition to hire construction project specialists in regions experiencing tremendous growth.

Although the survey shows that respondents were mainly interested in emigrating to Europe or Australia, many countries are facing a global labor shortage, especially in skilled trades. For example, The EU countries have a deficit of factory and machine operators, electricians and mechanics.

The flexibility that skilled trades offer could be especially attractive to younger workers; 34% of them showed interest in retraining in a profession (compared to only 23% of older workers). With the continued increase in remote work, young people may be considering all work options that offer flexibility and travel options.

Related reading: How to become a contractor

Additional research results

Professionals have struggled to recruit women in the past. According to Statistics CanadaIn 2022, only 7% of skilled workers were women. But the HomeStar survey found that 15% of women surveyed said they were considering retraining in a profession.

Concerns about the rise of AI in the workforce may also have something to do with the increased interest in learning a trade. After all, 50% of men and 49% of women said they were concerned about the potential impact of AI on their careers.

Considering the practical and hands-on aspect of skilled trades, this is a sector that may be captured by the rise of AI-powered jobs.

“Becoming a contractor – whether at home or abroad – offers a range of benefits as a career. And as concerns grow about the impact of AI on future jobs, it’s also clear that many people are looking for careers that offer long-term security. Skilled professional jobs can provide that stability,” said McGrory.

Making the connection

Emigration has continued to rise across all demographics, but working-age Canadians may not realize that skilled trades are a practical route to moving abroad.