• Catherine Whitnall
  • |
  • Apr 05, 2012 - 11:15 AM


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Changes needed to ensure the future of skilled trades

Ontario expected to have a million vacancies in the skilled trades within the decade

 

Future of skilled trades. When Jim Nesbitt retired, he confidently left Nesbitt's Meat Market in the hands of Adam Hayward, who had worked there for many years. Many skilled trades business owners have not been so lucky and, if more young people don't pursue these careers, the situation is likely to worsen as a large percentage of the existing workforce is expected to retire in the next decade. Catherine Whitnall

(KAWARTHA LAKES) Most people don’t mind having to wait two or three weeks to see their family doctor, but it’s questionable whether or not they would be willing to wait that long for a plumber, mechanic or hair stylist.
That could be the future as the skilled trades industry edges closer to entering a crisis. 
The Ontario Ministry of Finance estimates there will be one million vacant skilled trades jobs across Canada by 2021; double, if nothing is done by 2031.
It doesn’t only mean fewer skilled trades persons to go around, it also potentially means businesses will have no other alternative but to close without having someone else to take over.
Such situations are already occurring.
It was a similar situation for Jim Nesbitt when he was looking to retire. 
Neither of his sons were interested in taking over Nesbitt’s Meat Market. They opted for their own career paths, “and have done quite well” said Mr. Nesbitt, who understood completely at the time. 
“I didn’t follow my father either,” he added. 
Mr. Nesbitt instead, sold the business in 1999 to Adam Hayward who had worked at the store for roughly 13 years.
“When you build something up from scratch...you want to make sure it’s the right fit,” said Mr. Nesbitt.
Still in elementary school, Mr. Hayward was hired as a “clean up kid”; which he did for about two years. 
“Then they put a knife in my hand,” he said, noting it was something he was “itching to get at” for some time. 
“When you’re at a young age, you see what people are doing around you and you want to get at it too,” he said. 
In high school, Mr. Hayward’s thoughts were not to the skilled trades but teaching. When he was told job opportunities would be limited, he decided to take two years off and work with Mr. Nesbitt. He even started apprenticeship training but, given his years of hands-on experience, was miles ahead of the class. 
Mr. Hayward also tried financial management - which has come in handy as a small business owner - but it wasn’t the right fit. 
“At the same time, Jim was looking to sell,” said Mr. Hayward. “You always have the vision of what being your own boss is going to be like, but you’re not prepared for it all.”
Despite the expected ups and downs, Mr. Hayward has successfully invested in the business; mostly in staff. He considers himself fortunate to have hired four full-time cutters and believes doing so 10 years from now may be a huge challenge.
However, the Ontario Independent Meat Processors are already embarking on changing the tide. 
“They do see it in their industry and they want to take care of it before it happens,” said Mr. Hayward.
The association is working with the province and has expressed such recommendations as launching a post-secondary certification program with a meat specialization, expanding the range of training options for existing workers, piloting co-operative education with high school students and having the government consider incentives to encourage training. 
Fleming College is also taking action.
Last year, the province invested $29.3 million into the development of the Kawartha Skills Trade Institute at the college’s Sutherland Campus in Peterborough. 
The 87,000 square foot, state-of-the-art education and training facility will help meet the needs in the construction and manufacturing trade sectors by providing new space and equipment for Fleming students training in areas such as carpentry, masonry, welding, plumbing and machining. Through partnerships with education and industry, the Institute will also teach and train more students from regional secondary schools and industry.
Fleming College president Tony Tilly said the new centre will be a “great boon” to the community; both when it comes to serving local students and local employers, as well as attracting new students and new business to the area. 
Mr. Tilly said the college has met with more than 40 Kawartha area employers and a common concern emerged. The talent pool is dwindling. 
To address this from an academic stand-point, Mr. Tilly said it’s crucial to not only provide training opportunities for students - working with them while they’re still in high school to see the skilled trades as a viable career - but also enhancing the skills of those already working in the industry. 
“With all the projections of jobs that will be available in the future, primarily through retirement, it’s important to make that investment now,” said Mr. Tilly citing the skilled trades, along with the environment and health sciences, is deemed one of the key growth areas in employment. “And we need a skilled workforce to address the needs in the marketplace.”
Local MPP Laurie Scott is thrilled to see the college step up to the plate and address the skilled trades crisis. She hopes the centre is marketed to, not just high schools, but elementary as well.
“I’ve always thought the skilled trades should be discussed in schools earlier; in Grade 7 and 8 at the very least,” said Ms Scott, noting more exposure is needed. “When I speak to civics and careers classes, most of the students do not know what they want to do or where the jobs are. . . We have to get out there and show them [skilled trades] off. You need something to help them make those connections. Get them thinking there are choices out there.”