What are the Skilled Trades?
Did you know that there are more than 140 skilled trades professions, all with exciting opportunities to help you grow a long and rewarding career? From chef to electrician to programmer, there’s a skilled trade for everyone. Keep scrolling to find your perfect match.
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Construction
Ontario’s towns and cities are growing. This means construction is growing, and so are the job prospects.
Architectural Glass and Metal Technician
This is a job where people can see and pass by your work, literally. Not only does an Architectural Glass and Metal Technician offer you a foot in the door into an exciting career, but this job works on the walls and windows of commercial and residential buildings, and cars. You will install storefront frames and entrances, doors, skylights, and curtain walls. You are handling, measuring, cutting, preparing, fitting, installing, replacing and repairing all types of glass and glass substitutes.
Think about a building or an apartment that was exciting to look at. An Architectural Glass and Metal Technician made it happen. Not only will you improve the look of the buildings, but you will also be responsible for the durability and energy efficiency of its windows and panels. And you’ll be working with cranes.
Boilermaker
If you can handle the heat, get out of the kitchen and into a boiler room. As a Construction Boilermaker, you’ll build, install, test, maintain, and repair all kinds of boilers, tanks, and pressure vessels. You’ll be responsible for making sure boiler systems aren’t leaking, defected, and are operating safely and efficiently. You get to work with your hands and heavy machinery, like using punch presses and big cutters to create steel materials before hoisting them into place. This job can get sweaty and dusty, but it’s necessary for all kinds of buildings.
Brick and Stone Mason
Brick and Stone Masons are foundational to industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential buildings.
You’ll work with stones, but you will also have bricks, tiles, concrete blocks, panels, insulation, and more. All of it will come in handy, as this job will involve installing, maintaining, repairing, and altering all kinds of surfaces. You’ll be working on walls, floors, arches, pavings, partitions, fireplaces, chimneys, smokestacks, and other structures. You’ll also cut stones, which means you’ll use some intense power tools.
Cement (Concrete) Finisher
Here’s a concrete fact: the world always needs cement, so employment in this line of work is cemented. We apologize for setting a pun but working as a Cement (Concrete) Finisher is a great career in construction. You’ll work in all types of residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings.
This job involves preparing, forming, reinforcing, placing, leveling, finishing, curing, and jointing all types of concrete flatwork. You’ll apply a variety of construction methods to produce a wide range of finishes, colours, and textures to buildings.
Concrete Pump Operator
Concrete can get heavy, so someone has to be in charge of getting it to and from the places where it’s needed most. That’s where a Concrete Pump Operator comes in handy to seal the fate of a construction project. You’ll deal with concrete pumps that are truck-mounted, trailer-mounted, stationary, or on tower concrete placing booms.
On the job, you’ll coordinate the placement of concrete at work sites, operate high-pressure pumps, perform pre-operational inspections, monitor equipment performance, and understand government legislation, site plans, and manufacturers’ manuals. And sometimes, you get to communicate with your coworkers with hand signals.
Construction Craft Worker
Are you crafty enough to be a Construction Craft Worker? Good, because you’ll be working on a wide range of structures, from industrial and commercial sites to hydroelectric dams, roadways, bridges, tunnels, mining, and railways. You might also work on utility, landscape, and pipeline projects.
You’ll handle materials and are responsible for site security. You’ll operate equipment and could specialize in using off-road vehicles, drilling and blasting, scaling, sandblasting, high-pressure washing, diving, tunnelling, and performing emergency rescue. And you could do demolition, excavation, and compaction.
Construction Millwright
There is no construction without machinery and equipment, and a Construction Millwright is behind it all. You will lay out and install machinery, mechanical equipment, and other automated and robotic systems. If you consider yourself a people person, this job will have you working closely with people in other trades, like instrument mechanics, ironworkers, pipefitters, and electricians.
Specifically, on the job, you’ll do mathematical calculations to interpret drawings and turn them into a finished product. You’ll use welds, brazes, solders, rigs, hoists, and hand and power tools. You will also install bearings, seals and packing, pipe systems and valves, fans and blowers, electric and electronic controls, and pneumatic and hydraulic systems. The major perk of this job is you will drive forklifts.
Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
If you like walls, someone with a noisy neighbour will appreciate your work. As a Drywall Finisher and Plasterer, you will maintain and restore interior and exterior walls, ceilings, and other building partitions to make them more decorative, more fire-rated, and yes, more soundproof. You will also texture concrete, apply plaster to foundation materials and fill in gaps and imperfections, and repair and restore ornaments.
Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator
Walls do more than protect the privacy of those within them—they also keep us warm, and safe from fires, and enhance the quality of sound in a room. As a Drywall, Acoustic and Lathing Applicator, you’ll be responsible for all of these, especially by taking a job from blueprint to finished rooms and buildings.
On the job, you’ll apply thermal insulation, sound insulation, and fire stopping. You’ll work on both walls, floors, and ceiling systems. You’re in charge of systematically diagnosing faults in electrical and electronic components. You may be building walls, but career opportunities won’t be walled off from you.
Electrician – Construction and Maintenance
Looking for a job with a jolt of excitement? As an Electrician – Construction and Maintenance, you will plan, assemble, connect, install, repair, test, inspect, and maintain electrical systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. This will include heating, lighting, power, communication, control, energy storage, renewable energy, and security systems.
You plan and execute on the job. You take blueprints, sketches, and specifications, and turn them into installed and tested electrical systems. You measure, cut, thread, bend, assemble, and install conduits and conductors. And after a long day’s work, you’ll leave the site with an electric feeling of powering neighbourhoods and cities.
Electrician – Domestic and Rural
Enjoy having a mix of city, suburban, and rural life? An Electrician – Domestic and Rural will plan, assemble, connect, install, repair, test, and maintain electrical systems, specifically in houses, small dwellings, and/or farms. These systems include heating, lighting, digital, communication, control, and security systems.
You will be a master interpreter of blueprints, sketches, and specifications, taking a system from early concept to electrical connection. You will have an eye for detail, by testing equipment and diagnosing faults in electrical and electronic components. This is a job that will be a conductor of excitement.
Exterior Insulated Finish Systems Mechanic
It is possible for a building to be durable and delightful to look at, and that’s thanks to an Exterior Insulated Finish Systems Mechanic. This profession made stucco cool again, but now this added layer protects buildings from moisture and fire, improves its thermal performance, and bolsters its acoustics. You are, quite literally, a building’s outer layer of defence against the elements.
Floor Covering Installer
A floor can tie a room together, and as a Floor Covering Installer, you will be responsible for setting the tone of each room in a house or commercial building. You will install, repair, and replace floor coverings. You’ll have a wide range of surfaces at your disposal, including under cushion, carpeting, vinyl, tile, pre-finished and unfinished wood, laminate, and artificial turf.
Part designer, part builder, you will prepare floors, verify plans, and install surfaces. Your impact will be felt by everyone who steps into your rooms.
General Carpenter
The General Carpenter of today does a lot more than woodworking. They also construct, renovate, and repair structures made of steel, concrete, and other materials. You will build door and window systems, stairs, posts, and handrails. You will also install concrete foundations and frame floors, walls, ceilings, and roofs.
From the get-go, you establish building plans and prepare worksites. Your work will come in the form of houses, condos, stores, and skyscrapers. You are making an impact from the ground, up.
Hazardous Materials Worker
If you’re into making harmful areas safer, this job is perfect for people who don’t get goosebumps at the first sight of danger. As a Hazardous Materials Worker, you will identify, remove, package, transport, and dispose of materials that are harmful to people and the environment, like lead, mercury, and other biological hazards.
On the job, you will enclose job sites, pre-clean them, remove and clean materials, and perform routine inspections. You’ll set up decontamination chambers and waste chutes. Formal wear for this job is a Hazmat suit and a gas mask.
Heat and Frost Insulator
As a Heat and Frost Insulator, you could think of yourself as giving houses and buildings the perfect coat to withstand every season. You will work with insulating material to prevent or reduce the flow of heat, cold, vapour, moisture, sound, or fire. These materials will be used on systems, equipment, walls, floors, and ceilings. Your job will also involve applying metal and plastic finishes. People like steady temperatures in their buildings, and you’re to thank for that.
Heavy Equipment Operator – Dozer
Every construction project needs heavy equipment to move heavy materials and an operator who knows how and where to do it. As a Heavy Equipment Operator – Dozer, you will operate a dozer, its attachments, and other ground-engaging equipment in projects that involve road construction and maintenance, mining, quarrying, land clearing, forestry, logging, gas, and oil.
The dozer operator inspects, maintains, transports, and operates the dozer and its equipment. You will use dozers to maintain winter roads, move and spread mass materials, strip surface materials, create slopes and ditches, backfills trenches and excavations, level surfaces, and clear land. By building ramps, stockpiling, backfilling, and excavating, you are making sure construction sites are as efficient as possible, so materials will move smoothly and quickly.
Heavy Equipment Operator — Excavator
When people think of excavation, they think of holes, but this job is much more than ditch digging on steroids. As a Heavy Equipment Operator – Excavator, you will… excavate, but your job also involves grading, ramp building, stockpiling, backfilling, and towing, to ensure that construction sites are as efficient as possible.
You’ll work on many projects across multiple industries, including road construction and maintenance, mining, quarrying, land clearing, forestry, logging, as well as gas and oil. You will literally shape the landscape around you, by performing cut and fill operations, backfilling trenches and excavations, creating slopes and mass excavations, clearing land, striping surface materials, stockpiling and lifting materials. You’ll also work on logging and surface mining operations, demolitions, and baling snow.
Heavy Equipment Operator — Tractor Loader Backhoe
This job isn’t a typical tractor-on-the-farm job; you’ll be working on all types of construction projects. As a Heavy Equipment Operator – Tractor Loader Backhoe, you’ll be a key player in road construction and maintenance, mining, quarrying, land clearing, forestry, logging, gas, and oil. You are responsible for inspecting, maintaining, transporting, and operating this equipment and its attachments. These attachments will include buckets, bucket thumbs, quick couplers, splitters, grapples, teeth, and adapters.
You’ll be using a tractor loader backhoe to clear ice and snow, perform cut and fill operations, backfill trenches and excavations, stockpile and place materials, excavate trenches and ditches, load trucks, lift materials, clean-up job sites, perform logging and surface mining operations, and demolitions.
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 1
Not only are cranes epic, but you can also use them to move materials and your job opportunities to greater heights. As a Hoisting Engineer – Mobile Crane Operator 1, you will maintain and operate cranes that can lift, move, position, and place materials and equipment that weigh more than 16,000(!) pounds. This includes concrete, steel, gravel, and other supplies and machinery.
And this job isn’t limited to just construction projects. Cranes are needed at industrial sites, ports, factories, warehouses, dockyards, and railyards. You are, quite literally, the heavy lifter.
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 2
Not only are cranes epic, but you can also use them to move materials and your job opportunities to greater heights. As a Hoisting Engineer – Mobile Crane Operator 2, you will maintain and operate hydraulically controlled mobile cranes that can lift, move, position, and place materials and equipment that weigh anywhere between 16,000 and 30,000 pounds. This includes concrete, steel, gravel, and other supplies and machinery.
You will plan crane lifts that include calculating capacity and determining load weights. And this job isn’t limited to just construction projects. Cranes are needed at industrial sites, ports, factories, warehouses, dockyards, and rail yards. You are, quite literally, the heavy lifter.
Hoisting Engineer — Tower Crane Operator
Not only are cranes epic, but you can also use them to move materials and your job opportunities to greater heights. As a Hoisting Engineer – Tower Crane Operator, you will maintain and operate tower cranes to move and position equipment for construction, surface mining, shipbuilding, offshore drilling rigs, and railways.
You will plan crane lifts that include calculating capacity and determining load weights. You will also perform rigging, as well as setting up, dismantling, and jacking cranes. You are, quite literally, the heavy lifter.
Ironworker – Generalist
It takes a person made of steel to work on steel, and this line of work props up apartments and buildings, and really, city skylines. As an Ironworker – Generalist, you will reinforce steel in commercial, industrial, and large residential buildings. These steel beams are both structural and decorative. This work keeps people safe and buildings sturdy.
Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental
It takes a person made of steel to work on steel, but this line of work props up apartments and office buildings, and helps to form city skylines. This job goes beyond general ironwork, and as an Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental, you will fabricate and install both structural and decorative steel and iron works in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. You will also install curtain walls and glass systems. On top of assembling, fabricating, installing, altering, repairing, and dismantling structural ironwork, you will also assemble cranes and use any necessary heavy equipment. You’ll operate and maintain hand and power tools, including welding and cutting equipment. This work keeps people safe and buildings sturdy.
Native Residential Construction Worker
Looking for work that is a multi-skilled trade involving carpentry, electrical, and plumbing? As a Native Residential Construction Worker, you will be a part of any aspect of constructing a First Nations home, from excavating to finishing electrical and carpentry.
Your job will involve planning and building foundations, excavating, calculating the volume of concrete required for a foundation, and pouring cement. You will also construct roofing systems, perform plumbing work, install stairways, do basic welding, and landscape. You are a project manager, which includes setting timelines, supervising work, and sub-contracting. If you want to flex your multiple skills, this job is perfect for you.
Painter and Decorator — Commercial and Residential
In the skilled trades, there’s much more to painting than actual painting. As a Painter and Decorator – Commercial and Residential, you will apply decorative and protective finishes to many kinds of buildings and homes. You will also prepare and clean surfaces by scraping, sanding, sandblasting, hydro-blasting, and steam cleaning. You use brushes, rollers, and spray equipment. You also get to use scaffolds and swing stages.
Painter and Decorator — Industrial
In the skilled trades, there’s much more to painting than actual painting. As a Painter and Decorator – Industrial, you will apply decorative and protective finishes to commercial, institutional, and industrial settings. You will prepare a variety of surfaces like wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, concrete, synthetics, stucco, and metal. Not only will you work with paint, but also high-performance coatings, waterproofing, fireproofing, and specialty finishes.
Plumber
A plumber is much more than unclogging pipes and drains. As a plumber, you will install, repair, and maintain entire piping systems and fixtures for water distribution, drainage, and waste disposal. You connect any appliance that uses water, whether it’s for a domestic or industrial purpose.
To make pipe connections throughout a building, you will cut openings in walls and floors; use hand and power tools to measure, cut, bend, and install pipes; and join pipes with clamps, screws, bolts, or cement. You also get to weld.
Powerline Technician
This is a job that will take you to new heights and down below to connect all of society. As a Powerline Technician, you will construct, maintain, and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems and communication networks. You will install, maintain and remove power system poles and maintain transmission towers and structures.
You will work on both overhead and underground power systems, splicing and terminating conductors, troubleshooting, installing and operating system protection, control, and communications. We are moving fast towards a complete tech-centric society, and Powerline Technicians are conducting it all.
Precast Concrete Erector
This job may be dealing with concrete, but your responsibilities aren’t set in stone. In fact, as a Precast Concreate Erector, you guide crane operators in aligning concrete panels and slabs as you construct a new building. You will read architectural drawings and diagrams, load and unload concrete pieces, and apply grout to finish the walls.
Precast Concrete Finisher
This job may be dealing with concrete, but your responsibilities aren’t set in stone. In fact, as a Precast Concrete Finisher, you will, well, smooth and finish exposed surfaces of poured concrete floors, sidewalks, curbs, and many other structures. Either by hand or by machine, you will also restore, repair, and replace hardened concrete structures. You will use power tools to cut, core, and modify hardened concrete into pre-determined forms and shapes.
Refractory Mason
There are plenty of opportunities to get into the nitty-gritty of building industrial and commercial buildings. As a Refractory Mason, you will build and repair heat- and corrosion-resistant vessels like furnaces, tanks, and containers. Your work will be felt in steel mills, pulp and paper mills, refineries, auto plants, glass plants, and hospitals.
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
There are plenty of people who are not keen on the summer humidity that will appreciate this kind of work. As a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, you will work on refrigeration, cooling, and combined heating-cooling systems in residential and commercial buildings. You plan and perfect these systems. After they are installed, you are responsible for checking their efficiency, inspecting them, adjusting pressures and controls, and cleaning and lubricating parts.
Reinforcing Rodworker
It takes steely resolve to reinforce a wide variety of constructions. As a Reinforcing Rodworker, you will work on buildings, landscape features, parking garages, highways, bridges, wind turbines, stadiums, and towers. You will reinforce concrete by handling steel, composite materials, welded wire mesh, and post-tensioning systems. You’ll also get to use forklifts, aerial work platforms, and telehandlers.
Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer
Just because a building is low-rise, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a high demand for all the conveniences and necessities sheet metal offers. As a Residential (Low-Rise) Sheet Metal Installer, you will set residential air-handling and ventilation systems in buildings that are four storeys or less and don’t have common conditioned areas. You will work in single-family dwellings such as detached, semi-detached, town houses and linked homes that have a wood frame construction.
Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
There are plenty of people who are not keen on the summer humidity that will appreciate this kind of work. As a Residential and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, you will work on residential air conditioning systems. You plan and perfect these systems. After they are installed, you are responsible for checking their efficiency, inspecting them, adjusting pressures and controls, and cleaning and lubricating parts..
Restoration Mason
This work is similar to masons and bricklayers. However, as a Restoration Mason, you will repair and restore heritage buildings and monuments, including chimneys, smokestacks, foundations, forges, or houses with brick facades. Specifically, you repair or reset bricks, stone, and terra cotta blocks. You will drill, grout, and pin fractured stones, and wash and clean surfaces. This job maintains and enhances historical buildings and houses, and someone looking to modernize their Victorian or brownstone home will appreciate your work.
Roofer
An underrated perk of working on roofs is the access to suntans, not to mention the fresh air. As a roofer, you will also install, repair, and replace flat and sloped roofs. This will involve working with shingles, slate, shakes, and tiles. You will also waterproof and damp-proof roofing systems. In this case, you are actually putting a roof over people’s heads.
Sheet Metal Worker
If you want to use precision tools and can create a three-dimensional drawing, then look no further. As a Sheet Metal Worker, you will fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products in furnaces and ventilating systems, or whatever is needed in the construction industry. You will use computerized equipment to cut, bend, or straighten sheet metal, and you will also weld sheet metal parts.
Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
This job protects buildings from fires before they become all-consuming. As a Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer, you will lay out, install, maintain, modify, inspect, and test fire protection systems. You will also install fire pumps, drivers and controllers, commissions, detection, protection, and control systems.
Steamfitter
A passerby may not see piping in a building, but it’s still crucial to a building’s functions. As a Steamfitter, you will assemble, maintain, and repair piping that carries water, steam, fluids, gases, and chemicals. The piping systems you will construct are responsible for heating and cooling in facilities including oil refineries, power plants, manufacturing plants.
Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Setter
If you enjoy setting the baseline for interior and exterior designs, then set yourself up for this line of work. As a Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Setter, you will cover interior and exterior walls and floors with terrazzo, tile, and marble. You will use hand tools, lay mosaic tiles, remove and replace cracked or damaged tiles, and mechanically install natural stone on walls. People who love granite counter tops will also love what you can do to their kitchens.
Industrial
The pandemic has shown us the importance of strong domestic manufacturing. There are plenty of opportunities in this field.
Bearings Mechanic
Making sure machines don’t break down from friction is crucial for automobiles, airplanes, ceiling fans, computers, construction equipment, machinery, and refrigerators to run. As a Bearings Mechanic, you will work on anything that twists, turns, or moves.
Specifically, you will disassemble and clean bearings, seals and chocks, to check for wear and damage. Your work will literally make things move.
Blacksmith
Being a Blacksmith is the perfect cross between rugged, handy, and creative. Blacksmiths use tools to hammer, bend, and cut metal to make all kinds of objects. These include gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculptures, tools, agricultural implements, farm machines, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils, horseshoes, and weapons. A master of shaping metal, you will use welds, drills, chisels, and other tools.
Cabinetmaker
Storage pros, master organizers, or anyone who appreciates interior design will appreciate a quality cabinet. As a Cabinetmaker, you will build, repair, finish, and install residential and commercial cabinets, helping people stay neat and tidy, regardless of the setting. This job will hand you a variety of woods, laminates, and other products. You will also use power and computerized woodworking equipment.
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Programmer
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) isn’t understood by many people, so let’s start with defining it. CNC is when digitized data, a computer and CAM program is used to control, automate, and monitor the movements of a machine. The machine can be a milling machine, lathe, router, welder, grinder, laser or waterjet cutter, sheet metal stamping machine, robot, or many other types of machines.
A CNC Programmer does all this by defining areas of workpiece to be machined, determining CNC programming operations, planning the metal removal process, implementing processes, and optimizing programs. This job is at the forefront of industrial automation.
Die Designer
If you like both metal shapes and computer design, then keep reading. As a Die Designer, you will prepare and design blueprints, computer-aided drawings, and design schematics for metal form and precision tools. You will monitor and ensure that these dies are cut and shaped to specifications.
When you do a good job of shaping or cutting metal and plastic into pre-determined shapes and sizes, this will save manufacturers time and money, as it will ensure that machine parts are functioning properly.
Draftsperson – Mechanical
If you want to work in both manufacturing settings and engineering workshops, being a Draftsperson – Mechanical is right for you. This job will have you prepare drawings, designs, and plans that enable the manufacture and construction of all kinds of mechanical parts and equipment. You’ll get to use computer-aided design software as well as consult with engineers about the best way to develop and plan a design. Your drawings will be used by machinists as a reference when building a tool or piece of equipment.
Draftsperson – Plastic Mould Design
Every workplace needs a planner, and if you’re one to expect the unexpected and account for it, then consider a career as a Draftsperson – Plastic Mould Design. You are, in a sense, moulding a manufacturing setting, as you will prepare engineering designs, drawings, and related technical information. You can work independently, in multidisciplinary engineering teams, or in support of engineers, architects, or industrial designers.
On the job, you will operate computer-aided design and graphics drafting stations, develop sketches, design simple or complex templates and patterns, design mechanical equipment for mould manufacturing, and design plastic moulds for tooling.
Draftsperson – Tool and Die Design
This job is perfect for conceptual thinkers, as a Draftsperson – Tool and Die Design draw plans for templates, patterns, and components for tooling, dies, and other equipment. You will develop and prepare engineering drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, calculations, specification sheets, and other data. You can work independently, in multidisciplinary engineering teams, or in support of engineers, architects, or industrial designers.
On the job, you will use computer-aided design and graphics drafting stations to complete their plans. You will also design mechanical equipment for tool and die manufacturing and design component parts and attachments.
Electric Motor System Technician
Does working on motors get your motor running? As an Electric Motor System Technician, you will repair and rebuild electrical machines, systems, and equipment. You will maintain, test, and repair electric motors, transformers, switchgears and other electrical apparatus. You will determine the need, extent, and type of repairs required, and prepare time and cost estimates.
Electrician (Signal Maintenance)
This job will connect devices, people, and even cities. As an Electrician (Signal Maintenance), you will maintain, modify, install, troubleshoot, and repair city-wide serial, Ethernet, and wireless communication networks. These systems are responsible for traffic control and transit systems. You will work on modems and overhead and underground cables. You will install intersection hardware up to 20 feet in the air and operate various sized trucks, trailers, boom lifting equipment, forklifts, concrete saws, and power tools.
Elevating Devices Mechanic
When an elevator in a high-rise stops working or a chair lift fails in a hospital, it is critical that both are repaired quickly and efficiently. As an Elevating Devices Mechanic, you will construct, install, and maintain devices like elevators, lifts, and escalators. Not only are you taking people to new heights, but this job will also elevate your job prospects.
Entertainment Industry Power Technician
You don’t need to be an actor or a filmmaker or on the crew to work in the entertainment industry. As an Entertainment Industry Power Technician, you will plan, install, and maintain temporary systems on set for film, television, live performances, tradeshows, and special events. You will design, install, and control temporary power distribution systems and lighting. You will power the party so there is life of the party.
Facilities Mechanic
If you want to be on the front lines of ensuring complex equipment and machinery run efficiently and properly, then consider being a Facilities Mechanic. If equipment or machinery do break down, you will be in a time crunch to get them running again. You will have the thrill of working in tight deadlines, by inspecting fire equipment, heating and ventilation systems, electric and plumbing systems, and laundry and air conditioning systems. There will also be drawing and welding.
Facilities Technician
This job oversees large buildings or facilities, like factories or warehouses. As a Facilities Technician, you will monitor the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. You will also work on groundskeeping, indoor and outdoor building repairs, emergency power and lighting systems, boilers, water treatment systems, and more. If you have the strength and stamina to handle this job, it will reward you with different challenges and solutions every day.
General Machinist
If you want to know the ins-and-outs of machines, how they work, and what makes them work, then consider a job as a General Machinist. You are a critical part of manufacturing, as you will cut, shape, and finish metal to make precision machine parts. This includes using saws, drills, grinders, lathes, and mills. But this job is also intellectual: you will read and interpret complex engineering drawings to make the parts that keep these machines running.
Hydraulic/Pneumatic Mechanic
Most factories in Canada use hydraulic or pneumatic power systems. These are two types of systems that use pressurized fluids to carry power: Hydraulic systems use “wet” fluids like oil and water while pneumatic systems use “dry” fluids like pressurized air or other gases. As a Hydraulic/Pneumatic Mechanic, you will install, maintain, repair, rebuild, and modify both systems.
But this job isn’t limited to factories. These fluid power systems are also found in automobile power brakes and power steering, sliding supermarket doors, or the flaps in airplane wings. These machines are everywhere and powering society, and you will be the person making sure they all function.
Industrial Electrician
You want a wide range of repairs and fixes? Like heavy machinery or electrical equipment or control panels? As an Industrial Electrician, you will install electrical and electronic components, diagnose faults, and test them to make sure they function. You will work on motors, generators, distribution equipment systems, wiring and lighting, communications, renewable energy, and energy storage systems. You are behind what makes society move.
Industrial Mechanic Millwright
There is no shortage of industrial equipment that needs to be installed or repaired. As an Industrial Mechanic Millwright, you will work on mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, fuel, cooling, and exhaust systems. This includes installing, maintaining, and servicing robotics, pumps, presses, compressors, turbines, fans, generators, and compressed air, water, and exhaust ducting.
On the job, you will use machine tools, welders, power threaders, precision tools, lasers, dial indicators, and micrometers. You will also use testing equipment like vibration analysis for predictive and preventive maintenance.
Instrumentation and Control Technician
This job will place you in a vital role across many industries, ensuring equipment and systems function correctly, safely, and at peak performance. As an Instrumentation and Control Technician, you will monitor flow, temperature, and other variables for networking systems, process control, and environmental equipment.
On the job, you will calibrate, configure, install, and troubleshoot all pneumatic, electronic, electrical, mechanical, and instrumentation devices. You will also calibrate and repair analytical instrumentation that monitors or controls flow, level, temperature, pressure, acidity, conductivity and humidity.
Light Rail Overhead Contact Systems Linesperson
Light rails are becoming an important part of mass transit, and this job will ensure they are working correctly. As a Light Rail Overhead Contact Systems Linepersons, you are responsible for building and maintaining lighting systems, electrical track switch systems, contact conduct systems, and aerial feeder systems. On the job, you will create and maintain conductors, switches, transducers, air compressors, track gauges, hydraulic presses, voltmetres, ammetres, puller-tensioner machines, and hoisting equipment.
Locksmith
A Locksmith’s job is more than fixing, changing, or repairing locks. You will also fit digital locks, cut keys, open jammed locks, replace lost keys and legally open locked cars and safes. A locksmith is also skilled in customer relationships and offering professional advice on security options to safeguard homes, cars and offices. If you are a 24-hour emergency locksmith, you will offer on-call services when people are locked out of their cars, offices, and homes at odd hours.
Machine Tool Builder and Integrator
This job is at the forefront of manufacturing automation. As a Machine-Tool Builder and Integrator, you will assemble and integrate components and systems on stand-alone and machine tools on multi-station automated machines. These automated machine-tool systems are in every sector of manufacturing, including assembly, processing, and fabricating systems.
On the job, you will read and interpret complex engineering drawing and schematics and design assembly plans for machine tool building. You will use conventional and numerically controlled metal cutting machines and equipment, including saws, drills, grinders, lathes and mills.
Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
Want to work in all kinds of settings? How about making and repairing metal parts used in the construction of bridges, buildings, tanks, towers, boilers, and pressure vessels? As a Metal Fabricator (Fitter), you will build, assemble, and repair products made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals used in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction.
On the job, you will develop patterns and lay out, cut, and fabricate structural steel, plate, and metals. You will also assemble and fit metal sections and plates together to form complete machine units or sub-units.
Mould Maker
This is a job perfect for those who want to work with both metal and plastic. As a mould maker, you will design, make, and repair moulds to mass-produce plastic or metal components and products. You will use hand-moulding techniques, but more often, you will use computer and industrial technology to produce large numbers of identical items.
On the job, you will interpret complex engineering drawings and work-process documents, and then use build mould components with conventional and numerically controlled metal-cutting machines and equipment including saws, drills, grinders, lathes, mills, and EDMs.
Mould or Die Finisher
This is a job of detail and precision. As a Mould or Die Finisher, you will use a variety of hand and power tools to shape, smooth, finish, and polish moulds or metal working dies.
Optics Technician (Lens and Prism Maker)
There’s more to glass than what meets the eye. As an Optics Technician, you will produce spherical and plane optics to specifications, correct lens and prism surfaces, and fabricate optics. In plain English, you will work on lenses for cameras, projectors, eyewear, microscopes, telescopes, domestic appliances, and binoculars. This job requires knowledge about the propagation of light, reflection and refraction of light, composition of white light, and converging/convex or diverging/concave lenses.
On the job, you will set up and operate optic machinery including spherical grinders, drills, fine grinders, polishers, and centre and edge grinders. You’ll also get to coat lenses and prisms with anti-reflecting or high-reflecting coats.
Packaging Machine Mechanic
This job may not deliver packages, but it is responsible for moving them. As a Packaging Machine Mechanic, you will set up packaging lines to accommodate various products, package dimensions, and production volumes. You will also repair, adjust, or maintain this equipment.
More specifically, you will adjust guides, belts, conveyor speeds, and drive and transfer mechanisms. You will clean and lubricate machine components to make sure they operate smoothly and will refer complex electrical and mechanical repairs to certified personnel.
Pattern Maker
This job is where creativity meets precision. As a Pattern Maker, you will build wood, plastic, metal or polystyrene models to produce castings for mould makers. You will design and create foundry patterns and core boxes from metal, wood, plastic, and polystyrene for parts and components cast from metal. This will involve using wood and metal cutting machines and equipment, including saws, drills, grinders, lathes, mills and electrical discharge machines..
Pressure Systems Welder
This is a job that goes deep into factories and industrial settings. As a Pressure Systems Welder, you will use all kinds of welding—like shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc, flux cored arc—to weld metal plates, shells, tubes, drums, and other structures in boilers and pressure systems to assemble and repair them. You will also cut pipes and tanks and assemble these pieces, and repair defective welds in boilers and pressure systems.
Process Operator – Food Manufacturing
As a Process Operator – Food Manufacturing, you will work for food manufacturers and oversee the equipment that processes ingredients into the final products. Depending on your part in the production process, you will prepare machinery for use, weigh ingredients, and mix them. Maybe you’ll get to work on producing some of Canada’s favourite snacks!
Process Operator – Power
Does working in a power plant excite you? As a Process Operator – Power, you will monitor and run processing equipment, using hand tools and measuring devices to maintain temperature and pressure levels in the power plant. On the site, you will operate satellite control rooms, adjust valves and pumps, complete maintenance, prepare production equipment, and run safety audits and programs.
Process Operator – Refinery, Chemical and Liquid Processes
This is a job that’s perfect for those who love productivity and efficiency. As a Process Operator – Refinery, Chemical and Liquid Processes, you will monitor valves, pumps, and other equipment to make sure factories are running effectively. On the site, you will operate satellite control rooms, adjust valves and pumps, complete maintenance, prepare production equipment, and running safety audits and programs.
Process Operator – Wood Products
You can turn the page to the next chapter of your career working in pulp and paper plants. As a Process Operator – Wood Products, you will monitor and maintain the equipment in wood products and in paper plants. On the site, you will maintain tools and equipment, operate a central control room, control chemical composition, and carry out quality control.
Railway Car Technician
Here’s a job for people who are skilled in mechanics and enjoy hands-on work. As a Railway Car Technician, you will be responsible for inspecting trains and repairing cars on the tracks or in repair shops. On the job, you will inspect, repair, replace, and recondition mechanical or structural components and systems of freight cars and passenger coaches. You will also service rail trucks, underframes, brakes, car safety appliances, car bodies, and coaches. From the driver to the caboose, you are making trains run.
Relay and Instrumentation Technician
If you’re passionate about making sure transit is coordinated and moves properly, you can do so as a Relay & Instrumentation Technician. You’ll be repairing, overhauling, and calibrating vital signal control relays within transit systems. More specifically, you’ll diagnose and repair data acquisition and code systems, devices, computers, and power systems.
Saw Filer/Fitter
This job will have you living life on the edge… of a blade. Saw blades, to be exact, and as a Saw Flier/Fitter, you will repair, set, and sharpen blades for band, chain, hand, circular, and other types of saws in lumber or paper mills. Specifically, you will file grooved, contoured and irregular surfaces of knives, saw blades and metal objects. Sharp surfaces will require a sharp mind and sharper hands.
Surface Blaster
Imagine getting paid to blow things up. As a Surface Blaster, you will fill blast holes with explosives and detonate them to dislodge coal, ore, and rock to demolish structures. But you don’t just start blasting. On the job, you will assess the pre-blast area and site, control the blast area, design and implement the blast, load blast holes, hook up and initiate shot, and assess the results.
Surface Mount Assembler
The people who get into the nitty-gritty of electronics are why mobile phones, TVs, refrigerators, and other appliances even work. As a Surface Mount Assembler, you will solder, bond and assemble the various components that make electronics function. Your job is to put together electronic components like transistors, diodes, capacitors, integrated circuits, wires, and other parts.
Thin Film Technician
This job is a combination of mechanical, math, and writing skills. As a Thin Film Technician, you will apply very thin optical coatings for wavelength filters, anti-reflection coatings, special mirrors, and polarizing elements. On the job, you will work with spherical precision optics, syncro-speed precision optics, and plano precision optics.
Tool and Cutter Grinder
As a Tool and Cutter Grinder, you will set up and operate grinder machines to shape or sharpen precision cutting tools and cutters. Machines include surface, cylindrical, pedestal, and tool or cutter grinders.
Tool and Die Maker
This is a job that will put you in machine shops, tool rooms, and on factory floors. As a Tool and Die Maker, you will set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled or mechanically-controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools. These tools include dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges and specialty tools using various metals, alloys and plastics.
On the job, you will build precision dies, tools and prototypes using conventional and numerically controlled metal-cutting and forming machines and equipment, including saws, drills, grinders, lathes, mills, die presses and electrical discharge machines.
Tool and Gauge Inspector
To become a Tool and Gauge Inspector, you are likely already working as a Tool and Die Maker. But as a Tool and Gauge Inspector, you will inspect, test, and adjust new and reworked tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and gauges.
Tool/Tooling Maker
This is a job for people who love to fix and build machines. As a Tool/Tooling Maker, you will repair specialized equipment, cutting tools, gauges, jigs, fixtures, prototypes, and mechanical devices used for testing parts. You will also produce components to build machines and tooling used to create various industrial and consumer products.
On the job, you will use conventional and numerically controlled metal cutting machines and specialized equipment. You will also assemble and fit tools and tooling components, and design, build and assemble tools, jigs, fixtures, specialized equipment, instruments, models and prototypes. When all that is done, you will conduct final fitting and inspection of tool sub-assemblies and components as well as complex tools and tooling.
Tractor-Trailer Commercial Driver
This is a job perfect for those who like to travel, or at least enjoy long drives on the highway. As a Tractor-Trailer Commercial Driver, you will drive a commercial tractor-trailer and manage the safe transportation of goods and materials on roads and highways. You will travel all over Canada, the United States, and elsewhere.
Specifically, you will plan and execute driving routes, secure cargo and loads to ensure safety and prevent damage, and handle equipment off-road and on highways. You will also inspect equipment, conduct routine vehicle safety checks, and report problems.
Water Well Driller
This is a job for people on an endless search for water sources. As a Water Well Driller, you will operate various types of drilling equipment for the purpose of drilling and servicing water wells. You will perform service and maintenance of drilling equipment, select and change drilling tools, complete bore holes into a productive well, and disinfect and service completed wells and pumping equipment. On the job, you will use material handling and welding equipment to weld studs and braze.
Welder
Sparks will fly, you’ll have an epic face shield, and you’ll work with a lot of heat. If this is your style of work, then as a welder, you will permanently fuse pieces of metal or manufactured parts using metal filler and heat and/or pressure. You will also build structures and repair broken or cracked parts according to specifications. You’ll deal with three major types of welding: arc, gas, and resistance.
Motive Power
Society runs on cars, trains, trucks, and motorcycles. And you’re the one getting into the literal nuts and bolts of how it happens.
Agricultural Equipment Technician
This job does make you a farm hand in a sense, or maybe farm handy. As an Agricultural Equipment Technician, you inspect, diagnose, and repair tractors and implements used for tillage planting, harvesting, spraying, irrigation.
On the job, you will repair all kinds of agricultural equipment. This includes electrical, hydraulic, engine, and braking systems intake, exhaust, and emission control systems; mechanically and electronically controlled fuel systems; clutches, transmissions, drive axles and final drive assemblies; steering and suspension systems; tires, wheels, ballasting devices, undercarriages and tracks; and spraying and irrigation agricultural systems.
When crops are harvested and people are enjoying their favourite produce, they will have you to thank—especially the Corn Kid.
Alignment and Brakes Technician
Someone needs to make sure vehicles stop, start, and turn safely, and that person could be you. As an Alignment and Brakes Technician, you diagnose and correct problems in wheels, steering mechanisms, electronic controls, and brake systems in cars and trucks.
You will work with computers to diagnose problems and then you will fix electrical and electronic controls, suspension systems and frames, braking systems, tires, wheels, rims, hubs and axles, and alignment. Anyone who has peace of mind knowing they can stop their car as they drive down a hill can appreciate your work.
Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer
Accidents happen, and that slick, sleek car gets nicked or roughed up. As an Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer, you step in on these instances and repair and/or replace frame and structural components, mechanical, interior, and electrical components, plastic and composite panels, and sheet metal panels.
In the auto garage, you will weld breaks in body panels. You will also repair, remove or replace wiring harnesses, air conditioning systems, and mechanical components, and remove, replace, or adjust steering and suspension components. You turn accidents into opportunities, you bring new life to damage.
Auto Body Repairer
This job is perfect if you enjoy working on damaged cars and making them look good. As an Auto Body Repairer, you repair the body of motor vehicles, motor coaches, trucks or truck-trailers, including preparing vehicles for refinishing and repairing vehicle bodies and components..
Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician
What dispenses your windshield wiper fluid or makes your car’s air conditioning circulate that refreshing gentle breeze? A car’s electronic system and the person who makes it all operate smoothly. As an Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician, you install or repair electronic accessories in motor vehicles and heavy trucks.
More specifically, you will read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, instruction manuals, technical bulletins, and parts catalogues. You will use computerized service information systems to locate necessary information and use a variety of hand, power, specialized, and electronic tools, as well as testing and calibrating devices. You will also organize, secure, and route wiring.
Automotive Glass Technician
If there isn’t a windshield too cracked to intimidate you, then check out a career as an Automotive Glass Technician. On the job, you will safely store and handle glass, inspect vehicles for damage, and select automotive glass tools, safety equipment, and replacement glass/trim/components.
Automotive Painter
For any car with a nice paint job or finish, there is an Automotive Painter behind it. You work on the surface of motor vehicles and restore vehicle finishes, including removing exterior trim and hardware, matching colours and mixing paints, and preparing surfaces for painting.
On the job, you will remove exterior trim, hardware, and sub-coating. You will also match colours and mixes paints, sand and mask metal surfaces for painting, and apply primers, primer surfacers, clearcoats, and urethanes. You will also clean and polish painted surfaces, including removing and replacing decals.
Automotive Service Technician
As an Automotive Service Technician, you will perform preventative maintenance, diagnose problems, and repair vehicle systems in cars and light trucks. When you pop open the hood or exterior of these vehicles, you will diagnose and repair engines, transmissions, clutches, rear ends, differentials, brakes, drive shafts, axles, and other assemblies.
You will align wheels, axles, frames and steering mechanisms. You will work on suspension systems—like shock absorbers and spring assemblies—and ignition, charging and starting systems, panel instruments, wiring and other electrical/electronic systems and equipment.
Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician
Motors need to be in tip-top shape to keep humming, and a Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician is behind all of it. The job revolves around repairing and maintaining motor vehicles. You will diagnose faults in, install, repair, and remove ignition and charging and starting systems, panel instruments, wiring, and other electrical and electronic systems and equipment. You will also repair and adjust fuel systems, engine management systems and emission control systems.
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
If you like working on massive equipment and vehicles, then there is plenty of work for you. As a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, you repair, overhaul, and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in construction, forestry, mining, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, transportation, and farming. This equipment includes draft shaft drive axle assemblies, final drive, structure components and accessories, tires, wheels, frames and undercarriages, and ground engaging equipment and attachments.
On the job, you will work on multiple systems including engines, fuel, electrical, hydrostatic and transmission, suspension, hydraulic, transmissions, and engine management, climate control, intake exhaust and emission control, steering, braking, drive, structural components, frames and undercarriages as well as ground engaging equipment.
Marine Engine Technician
All those interesting videos of sea life happened because a Marine Engine Technician helped people travel the oceans. As a Marine Engine Technician, you inspect, diagnose, and repair marine and watercraft systems. These include gasoline and diesel engines, fuel management systems, engine electrical systems, marine electrical, electronic and navigation systems, steering and hydraulic systems, drives, and propulsion systems.
More specifically, you will repair electrical and electronic marine engine systems, engine fuel management systems, and hydraulic, drive and propulsion systems. You will also perform engine tune-ups, repair engine systems, install engine and propulsion systems and winterize marine craft systems and accessories.
Motive Power Machinist
As a Motive Power Machinist, you operate precision metal cutting and grinding machines that work on engines, suspensions, flywheels, brake components, blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, and connecting rods. These machines include lathes, milling machines, drills, shapers, boring mills and grinders. The equipment you will work on is used to manufacture, install, operate, disassemble, re-condition, adjust, repair, or replace motor vehicle parts.
Motorcycle Technician
When someone is cruising along the highway, straddling their motorcycle with the wind blowing all around, you are responsible for their adventure. As a Motorcycle Technician you repair, service, overhaul, inspect, and test motorcycles for faults and road readiness.
On the job, you repair motorcycle engines and drive lines, fuel and ignition systems, lighting and other electrical systems, steering, front and rear suspensions, braking, tires, and wheels.
Powered Lift Truck Technician
As a Powered Lift Truck Technician, you work on lift truck equipment, powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines designed to lift and transport material. You will work on a power lift truck’s electrical, steering, braking, hydraulic, frames, transmissions, drive axles, suspension, and wheels and lifting systems. You will use hand, power, specialized, precision, and electronic service tools to make required repairs.
Recreation Vehicle Technician
RVs camping across the continent work because a Recreation Vehicle Technician maintains and repairs their systems and components. This includes an RV’s electrical, plumbing, propane gas, appliances, exterior and interior, structural frames, exterior and interior finishing components. You may work for dealerships, repair shops, manufacturers, or be self-employed.
Small Engine Technician
Smaller engines need love too. As a Small Engine Technician, you diagnose, repair, and maintain small- to medium-sized engines and engine-related systems for off-road vehicles and powered equipment. Specifically, you will work on their electrical systems, frames, steering and suspension systems, transmission and auxiliary power systems, braking systems, compressed air supply systems, and hydraulic systems.
Transmission Technician
If you feel stalled out, kick your career into high gear. As a Transmission Technician, you inspect, maintain, and repair transmissions and trans-axles on cars, buses and trucks. You will repair drive shafts, differentials, drive axle assemblies, manual and automatic transmissions and transaxles, electrical and electronic controls, and transmission oil coolers. You literally make people move.
Truck and Coach Technician
Big engines require big ambitions. As a Truck and Coach Technician, you inspect, repair, and maintain, commercial trucks, emergency vehicles, buses and road transport vehicles by working on structural, mechanical, electrical and electronic systems.
Specifically, you will work on, electrical and electronic systems, engines, transmissions, clutches, drive shafts, axles, body and trim, frames and hitching, coupling systems, steering, suspension and computer control systems, tires, wheels and hubs, and braking systems.
Truck-Trailer Service Technician
As a Truck-Trailer Service Technician, you inspect, diagnose, maintain, rebuild, assemble, and repair transport trailers connected to or moved by a power unit. These include flat decks, dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, tankers, converters, boosters, jeeps, pole trailers, steering dollies, dump trailers and any other commercial pull-type units.
Specifically, you will work on electrical systems, landing gear assemblies, trailer frames, bodies, hitching/coupling systems, suspension systems, tires, wheels, rims, hubs, axles, braking systems, hydraulic systems, heating and refrigeration systems, and ventilation devices.
Turf Equipment Technician
Well-maintained lawns need well-maintained equipment. As a Turf Equipment Technician, you work on mowing equipment, golf carts, traction units, small-powered equipment, and tow-behind equipment. You will work at golf clubs and courses, equipment distributors and dealerships, equipment rental shops, provincial parks, sod farms, municipal and other government agencies. Specifically, you will sharpen and set reel type mowers, and operate tow-behind equipment.
Service
Service workers determine how our food is cooked, how our hair is styled, how our children learn and grow. Many aspects of society function because of the dedication and attention of service workers.
Aboriginal Child Development Practitioner
This job is a perfect fit for those interested in childhood development and curriculum planning. As an Aboriginal Child Development Practitioner, you will plan, organize, and implement activities for preschool children. You will foster a supportive environment and create culturally relevant activities that will help children learn about their traditions, interests, and values. This will stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical, and emotional growth.
Agricultural – Dairy Herdsperson
Got milk? People do because of this job. As a Dairy Herdsperson, you will be responsible for the feeding, health, nutrition, and breeding programs on dairy farms. You are responsible for maintaining livestock performance records and performing all dairy-producing work, including selection, breeding, feeding, medicating, and milking the animals. You will also operate and maintain the barn mechanical and electrical systems and farm mechanical equipment.
Agricultural – Fruit Grower
How about them apples? This job isn’t limited to just apples, so as an Agricultural – Fruit Grower, you will plant, cultivate, propagate, spray, irrigate, transplant, prune, and harvest all types of fruit. You will also operate and maintain mechanical and power equipment and systems and farm mechanical equipment.
Agricultural – Swine Herdsperson
You may not literally bring home the bacon, but this job helps the people who do. As an Agricultural — Swine Herdsperson, you will carry out feeding, health, and breeding programs on hog farms. You are responsible for maintaining livestock performance records and performing all hog-producing work, including selection, breeding, feeding, and medicating the animals. You will also perform farrowing procedures, manage nursery stock, and operate farm systems, vehicles, and mechanical equipment.
Appliance Service Technician
If you’re handy and like fixing all kinds of devices around the house, then consider being an Appliance Service Technician. You will install, assemble, disassemble, remove, and repair appliances and electrical products like refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and ovens. To do so, you will use specialized tools and methods to test, calibrate, adjust, and fabricate appliances, household products, their components, and accessories.
Arborist
If you’re a person of the woods, or at least nature, then here’s a line of work for you—and you don’t have to be a rugged lumberjack! As an Arborist, you will transplant, maintain, and remove trees and woody plants using ropes, climbing systems, pruning tools, diagnostic tools and mechanized equipment. You will understand how to cultivate, manage, and study individual trees, shrubs, vines, and woody plants. An Arborist carries out treatments for optimal tree health by managing pests, diseases, wounds, and defects that impact trees and woody plants. You will also fertilize, irrigate, mulch, and aerate soil.
Assistant Cook
A person of preparation, you make sure kitchens have what they need to deliver timely and of high-quality meals. As an Assistant Cook, you will prepare and cook a wide range of foods in various settings such as restaurants and hotels. These meals include breakfast, hot and cold sandwiches, stocks, soups and sauces, salads, dressings, vegetables, and desserts. You will use a variety of preparation methods including roasting, deep-frying, poaching, sautéing, braising, and grilling to prepare meats, poultry, and fish.
Baker
If you have a great internal timer and love the thrill of multitasking, then consider being a Baker. You will prepare and bake pies, tarts, squares, bread, rolls, cookies, cakes and more.
In the kitchen, you will prepare straight or sponge dough, yeast-raised pastry, puff pastry and aerated products. You will make savoury products such as filled pies, patties, rolls, biscuits, crackers, and flatbread. You finish and decorate cakes, prepare fillings, mousses, sauces, compotes, and glazes. You will also prepare confectionary, specialty goods and desserts for dietary restrictions. But this job isn’t limited to pastries; you will also make ice cream, sorbets, gelato, and other frozen desserts.
Chef
Like the Food Network? Here’s a chance to have a taste of that. As a Chef, you will work in restaurants, hotels, spas, and country clubs. You are responsible for everything in the kitchen, from developing the menu and hiring staff to purchasing ingredients, selecting dinnerware, and assisting with restaurant design. This job will give you an advanced knowledge of food preparation and management, as well as knowledge of human resources, administrative procedures, and business management.
Child and Youth Worker
Passionate about early child development? As a Child and Youth Worker, you will improve the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of vulnerable children, youth, and families. You will focus on the growth and development of children and youth based on direct, day-to-day work with children and youth in their environment and develop relationships with children, their families, their communities, and other inter-disciplinary team members.
On the job, you will maintain safe environments, promote health and well-being, build relationships, plan programs, and apply intervention strategies. You will also work in an interdisciplinary team environment and communicate with other professionals.
Child Development Practitioner
Here is a job that, regardless of the setting, the focus remains the same: children’s health. As a Child Development Practitioner, you will plan and implement age-appropriate services, support, and programs for children. Your work will facilitate their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. CDPs deliver services in childcare centres, the preschool sections of hospitals and schools, and Ontario Early Years Centres.
On the job, you will foster relationships with children, plan developmentally appropriate programs, apply intervention strategies, support emergent learning practices, and cultivate family, cultural, and social relationships. You will participate in a team environment with families, colleagues, community members, and support services providers.
Cook
Like turning ingredients into something delicious? As a Cook, you prepare a wide range of foods for small or large groups, or individual dishes in restaurants and test kitchens. In the kitchen, you will prepare, cook, and assemble food such as meats, salads and dressings, soups, sauces, sandwiches, vegetables, desserts, pastries, baked foods, hot and cold buffets, and non-alcoholic beverages.
More specifically, you will create specialty dishes, develop recipes, and perform menu and nutrition planning, food costing, purchasing, scheduling, and receiving deliveries. You will have an eye for detail as well, by checking product quality and quantity and you will estimate food, liquor, wine, and other beverage consumption to anticipate purchases or requisitions.
Developmental Services Worker
If you’re passionate about helping people who have a developmental disability to realize their full potential, then consider being a Developmental Services Worker. You will be employed by organizations that provide support to individuals with special needs, including faith and culture-based agencies and by school boards to assist in the classroom.
On the job, you will promote their adaptive skills, maintain a safe environment, model, and promote a healthy lifestyle, assist with medications, apply crisis prevention and intervention strategies, and develop and implement person-directed plans. You will also support the individual in the development and maintain family, community, and other relationships.
Educational Assistant
This job is perfect for those who love education. As an Educational Assistant, you will support educators in working with students, including those with exceptional education needs to implement education, safety, and behaviour support plans. On the job, you will develop intervention strategies to support successful student outcomes. You will also promote a positive environment for learning and assisting with life and living skills development.
Electronic Service Technician
As an Electronics Service Technician, you will specialize in repairing electronic equipment. This includes radio and television receivers, stereo components, video cameras, video and audio tape recorders, two-way radio communication systems, and bio-medical systems. On the job, you will terminate and connect conductors and printed circuit boards within electronic products, troubleshoot and diagnose problems in electronic products, and repair electronic products.
Gemsetter/Goldsmith
Do you trust yourself to handle shiny and valuable objects? As a Gemsetter/Goldsmith, you will fabricate and repair precious and semi-precious jewelry and gemstone work. You will also test metals, form rings, drill holes and sockets for stones or hinges, solder pieces of jewelry and gemstone work, design and set gem settings, and fabricate and assemble all types of jewelry and gemstone work.
Hairstylist
This job will make you responsible for the appearance and personal grooming of all kinds of people who need different looks for different settings and occasions. As a Hairstylist, you will cut, colour, wave, relax, and straighten hair. You’ll also work with wigs, hairpieces, and extensions.
Horse Groom
As a Horse Groom, you are responsible for the maintenance, health, nutrition, feeding, and grooming of horses. On the job, you will groom, tack-up, and feed horses. You will also clean stalls, maintain stable facilities, and perform horse health maintenance procedures.
Horse Harness Maker
Hop in the saddle and ride toward a new career. As a Horse Harness Maker, you will manufacture, rebuild, and repair a wide variety of harnesses and saddles for equestrian disciplines. On the job, you will stitch leather by hand, cut heavy leather, diagnose and repair broken or defective components, and replace worn parts. You will also trim, slick, rub, crease, punch holes, and bevel or burnishes edges.
Horticultural Technician
Not everyone has a green thumb, so people who love fresh produce will need people like you. As a Horticultural Technician, you will grow, install, and maintain indoor and outdoor plants. This includes building urban and rural landscapes, maintaining outdoor properties, caring for turf grass and golf courses, and installing and maintaining irrigation systems.
On the job, you will grow plants using different propagation techniques, identify nutrient requirements of plants, apply fertilizers, and monitor plants. You will also analyze plant watering requirements, controls plant pests, and transplant, install, and prune plants.
Information Technology – Contact Centre Customer Service Agent
If you’re a people person and you love making customers feel satisfied and appreciated, then you can be an Information Technology — Contact Centre Customer Service Agent to support a company’s sales team. In this job, you will maintain a contact centre environment, provide customer service, provide sales and service, and plan for personal development..
Information Technology – Contact Centre Sales Agent
If you’re a people person and you love making contacts to help a company develop new business opportunities, then you can be an Information Technology — Contact Centre Sales Agent to support a company’s sales team. In this job, you will maintain a contact centre environment, provide customer service, provide sales and service, and plan for personal development.
Information Technology – Contact Centre Technical Support Agent
If you’re a people person and you love helping customers find solutions to their problems, then you can be an Information Technology – Contact Centre Technical Support Agent. In this job, you will maintain a contact centre environment, provide customer service, install microcomputer operating systems and components, and configure, service, and replace microcomputer systems and components.
Information Technology – Hardware Technician
As an Information Technology – Hardware Technician, you will support clients in the use of computer applications and operating systems; install hardware, software, and network components; and troubleshoot information systems. On the job, you will assemble, repair, and upgrade microcomputer systems, components, and peripherals. You will also install operating systems and application software.
Information Technology – Network Technician
As an Information Technology — Network Technician, you support clients in the use of computer applications and operating systems; install hardware, software, and network components; and troubleshoot information systems. On the job, you will install, configure, and maintain client workstations and network servers connected by a local area network. You will also apply technical knowledge of data communication, standards, protocols, and internet working concepts.
Institutional Cook
This is a job of preparation and assembly – something every kitchen needs to cook food efficiently and quickly. As an Institutional Cook, you will prepare meals in both small and large quantities using bulk-cooking methods. You will prepare food to meet individual dietary needs, including health, religious, ethnic preferences, and budgetary requirements. You may work in retirement or long-term care homes, hospitals, childcare centres, school dining areas, correctional facilities, and corporate environments.
In the kitchen, you will prepare, cook, and assemble food such as meats, salads and dressings, soups, sauces, sandwiches, vegetables, desserts, pastries, baked foods, hot and cold buffets and non-alcoholic beverages.
Micro Electronics Manufacturer
While most electronics manufacturing is automated, a person still needs to monitor the machines and equipment to make sure they’re operating correctly. As a Micro-Electronics Manufacturer, you will work with the automated equipment used to manufacture high technology integrated circuits and modules to make sure it is working correctly.
On the job, you will operate process equipment including manual, automatic and semi- automatic manufacturing equipment to produce micro-electronic products. This micro-electronic manufacturing equipment will be used to spin coat, photo align, develop, etch, measure, implant oxides, sputter, print, test, inspect, measure, dice and bake.
Native Clothing and Crafts Artisan
If you are interested in designing and making tailored clothes and associated crafts that reflect traditional indigenous themes, then you could become a Native Clothing and Crafts Artisan. This job will make you familiar with mukluk/moccasin making, quill work art, moose/caribou hair tufting and sculpting, fish scale art, birch bark baskets, and North American bead work. In this job, you will design and make tailored garments and associated leather crafts.
Network Cabling Specialist
As a Network Cabling Specialist, you install, test, label, and maintain low-voltage communication distribution systems and signal sources, which supports voice, video, and data transmissions within industrial, commercial, institutional, and office settings. On the job, you will plan cable installations, install the infrastructure, and troubleshoot systems.
Parts Technician
As a Parts Technician, you will order, warehouse, sell, and do inventory control of parts, servicing a range of industries including motive power, appliance, heavy duty equipment and natural resources. On the job, you will identify and catalogue parts and assemblies. You will also order, receive, inspect, sort, and maintain inventories and prices, and you will sell supplies, parts, and assemblies.
Retail Meat Cutter
Ever wanted to use those cool slicing machines at the deli? As a Retail Meat Cutter, you’ll get to use the machines to prepare and cut beef, pork, lamb, veal, and poultry. You’ll also get to prepare meat for sausage making. Anyone who likes super thin cold cuts will appreciate your work.
Saddler
You will be a pro at making both horseshow and cowboy outfits, and maybe the materials you make may wind up at the Stampede. As a Saddler, you will design, manufacture, rebuild, and repair saddles, saddle trees, harnesses, riding boots and associated tack for equestrian disciplines.
Special Events Coordinator
There needs to be the life of a party, but there also needs to be a planner. As a Special Events Coordinator, you will help plan meetings, conferences and conventions, sporting events, fundraising events, festivals, consumer and trade shows, incentive programs, product launches, and weddings. This job will also involve developing and executing marketing plans, on-site event coordination (including staff and volunteers), and risk management (including alcohol management).
Utility Arborist
Trees need to be kept at a safe distance from electrical utilities. As a Utility Arborist, you will prune, rig, or move tree branches and woody vegetation that is in proximity or could contact any electrical apparatus. A Utility Arborist uses climbing techniques, climbing systems, and mechanized equipment to work at heights in urban, rural and off-road locations.
On the job, you will remove dangerous trees, conduct condition assessments within the electrical system rights of ways, use different types of on- and off-road aerial devices, and work with herbicides to control vegetation. You will also operate on- and off-road equipment such as snow machines, all-terrain vehicles and large tracked aerial devices for work that is away from main highways. To do this work, you will have to secure authorization from the general public, utility customers, government agencies, First Nations communities, and landowner associations.
Thinking about your career? The skilled trades could be perfect for you.
Reasons to consider the skilled trades
The skilled trades provide rewarding, lucrative and purpose-driven career pathways that are in high demand.
Can I pursue a skilled trade?
Find out if you’re eligible to pursue a skilled trade in Ontario. Spoiler: there’s a skilled trade for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Providing answers to your biggest questions about the skilled trades. Covers everything from the pay to training.