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'Extra alarming': Census shows skilled trades at record low in London area

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Warnings about the falling number of people entering skilled trades in the London area are verified by new census data that shows the number of qualified tradespeople hit a record low last year.

In 2021, only 10.2 per cent of London’s labour force had relevant credentials to work in the trades – apprenticeship or non-apprenticeship trades certificates and diplomas – figures from the latest census data show. That compares to 16.1 per cent in 2006.

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Looking specifically at younger people, the percentage of local workers between the ages of 25 and 29 with such credentials was 5.7 per cent in 2021, down from 13.1 per cent 15 years ago.

Though anecdotal evidence already indicated a big shortage of young skilled workers, the census data underscores how big the gap is, said Jared Zaifman, chief executive of the London Home Builders’ Association.

“I think it’s extra alarming, just knowing where we have been struggling to get people into the skilled trades and knowing the significant gap that we were already expecting to see,” he said.

Those numbers “don’t portend well for the future knowing that we need more young people in the industry,” Zaifman said.

“These are all really critical jobs, certainly at the city level, where we’re seeing that it’s harder to get as much done as quickly as possible.”

London isn’t alone in this trend.

Nationally, the percentage of people in the trades dropped to 17.4 per cent last year, down from 21.8 in 2006.

King’s University College demographer Don Kerr, who compiled the census data, said part of the decline can be attributed to the fact there are more people between age 60 and 64 about to enter retirement, than those age 20 and 24 who are about to enter the labour force.

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“This is why the government has targeted immigration as a potential solution,” he said. “If we did not have immigrants, our labour force would actually currently be shrinking.”

But the overall decline is still a concerning trend given the growing need for infrastructure as the country’s population continues to go up, Kerr said.

He pointed out that while the number of people getting certification in the trades is dropping, the percentage of young people with a college degree has remained stable during the past 15 years, dropping to 25.3 per cent in 2021 from 27.4 per cent in 2006.

“While many of our community colleges across the province are providing excellent training in occupations currently in demand, for whatever reason, young adults are not taking full advantage,” he said. “In light of the salary that many of these trades can demand, this is somewhat difficult to understand.”

The latest figures come at a time when the Ontario government has made a big push to get young people interested in careers in the trades, warning of a looming crisis as one in three journeypersons is older than 55.

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Ontario Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton said he was not surprised by the latest figures, saying for too long governments failed to promote the trades as a viable career option for young people.

“Governments in the past have known about the aging demographics . . . so this crisis has been years in the making,” he said, adding the Ontario government, now, is investing $1.5 billion to fund initiatives to get more people in the trades.

“My entire plan is focused around three pillars. We want to end the stigma around the trades, simplify the apprenticeship system, and get employers to bring on apprentices.”

Among those initiatives is the province’s first-ever skilled trades fair, which attracted thousands of school-age students to the city last month.

Though the latest figures may not be reflecting it now, McNaughton said the province is “moving in the right direction.”

“I can say confidently that we’re reversing the trend, and that there are thousands more young people picking up careers in the skilled trades,” he said.

jjuha@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/JuhaatLFPress

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