Toronto, Ontario — More Canadians are considering careers in the skilled trades than in previous years, a new survey shows.
According to a recent Leger survey commissioned by Classic Fire + Life Safety, 43 percent of Canadians have considered taking up a skilled trade this year, up from 40 percent last year.
More than half of Canadians — 52 percent — say they think more highly of trades now than they did a few years ago. While 76 percent of respondents believe there are more skilled trade opportunities than before, that’s down slightly from 80 percent in 2024. However, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) believe skilled trade compensation is good.
Similar to last year, three-quarters (76 percent) would encourage their children or others to pursue a career in the trades.
When asked about benefits, 50 percent cited the appeal of hands-on work, 48 percent pointed to strong earning potential, 38 percent highlighted job security, and 26 percent said trades provide good opportunities to start a small business. Job security and hands-on work saw the biggest increases compared to 2024, rising nine and six percentage points respectively.
Still, interest in some skilled trades is limited. Only 30 percent of respondents said they’d heard of fire alarm technicians, while just 22 percent knew what sprinkler fitters did. Most worrying of all, only 11 percent of people said they would know where to begin if they wanted to enter either field.
