When most Canadians think of quality products made with a high level of technical skill and engineering, they usually think of Europe.
And for good reason: European countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, Sweden and Italy are all exporters of world-class products. These products include BMW and Siemens from Germany, Ferrari and Ducati from Italy, Cartier and Michelin from France, Kuehne + Nagel and Schindler from Switzerland, and Electrolux and Husqvarna from Sweden. These brands — as well as other quality products from Europe — are synonymous around the world with state-of-the-art engineering, technical precision and know-how, and reliability.
It’s why the European Union has one of the strongest and most productive economies in the world and why European living standards are among the globe’s highest.
But Europe could never have achieved that well-deserved status if it weren’t for its outstanding trade and technical skills training. In other words, European manufacturers rely on the high-calibre technical skills and training that many Europeans receive through their countries’ educational systems.
In fact, in the World Economic Forum’s most recent Human Capital Report, eight of the top 10 countries in the world for skills and education were European. Not surprisingly, most of these countries have strong vocational training systems that emphasize technical skills training and apprenticeship programs so that young people can learn a trade.
I believe Canada should create a technical trades learning program modelled along the same lines as the programs throughout Europe. By the time a student reaches the age of 16, they should be exposed to various technical trades or industry-related jobs. The program would expose high school students in Grades 11 and 12 to four different trades over a two-year period.
The trade learning would take place primarily outside of school at factories, auto shops, home construction sites and restaurants. The trades that students would be exposed to would include everything from food processing and baking to automotive mechanics and body repair, as well as all of the construction trades, including carpentry, plumbing, masonry and drywall.
During the first year, the students wouldn’t earn any money. But in the second year, the companies providing the apprenticeship training would pay them a small stipend to give them some pocket money.
Adopting this hands-on learning approach would give students a real taste for whether or not they have the aptitude and desire to pursue a career in the trades. It would also be the driving force behind the development of thousands and thousands of skilled technicians and trades people that our country needs — everything from carpenters and mechanics to tailors and chefs.
In June, CIBC Deputy Chief Economist Benjamin Tal published a report on the state of housing in Canada and noted that the job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high with approximately 80,000 unfilled jobs — a problem that will only get worse since the percentage of construction workers nearing retirement is also at an all-time high. And while immigrants used to be a significant source of skilled labour, Tal pointed out this is no longer the case when it comes to the construction industry.
That exact same trend — a shortage of workers, a looming retirement crisis and fewer young apprentices — could apply to almost any trade. So the implications for the Canadian economy are dire.
The fact is, we’re graduating far too many liberal arts majors and not nearly enough skilled trades people. Many of these students are graduating with enormous debt and bleak job prospects because they lack any tangible, worthwhile skills that businesses and organizations are willing to pay for.
A college or university education is not for everyone. Young Canadians want to build a good life and become productive members of society. But we’re doing them a big disservice by not providing opportunities to make a good living and enjoy a rewarding career working as a tradesperson.
Technical trades education would be a big win for society and a big win for business, as well as a shot in the arm for Canada’s stagnant economy. Most of all, it would be a big win for young Canadians who hunger for the same opportunities and quality of life that previous generations enjoyed.
That’s what a technical trade career can provide. And that’s exactly what we should be promoting.