If you pay attention to the news or just talk with your friends, you’ll know that that two of the biggest sources of stress are finding a job and student loans. Both can easily be avoided with a skilled trade job. Skilled trades allow you to get into the workforce faster, earn a good income and avoid crushing student loan debt.

The problem is that many people focused on white collar jobs often think of blue collar jobs as minimum wage labor. They may not realize that skilled trades represent an entirely different category, many of which require computers skills, artistic ability or other talents.

Well-paying skilled trades include:

• Mechanic
• Driver
• Electrician
• Painter
• Machinist
• Pipefitter
• Welder
• Carpenter
• Mason
• And many, many others.

There are also subspecialties that may be even more lucrative such as airplane workers, underwater welders or nuclear technicians.

Why is the time right for skilled trades?

Retiring boomers are leaving a skills gap that must be filled. With older people leaving the workforce in droves, there are plenty of opportunities for young people willing to learn a trade.

Training is inexpensive – maybe free. A four year degree costs tens of thousands of dollars or more and takes, of course, four years or more.  Training for skilled trades is normally free to a few hundred or a thousand dollars.

You are usually work- ready in less than a year.  And in some cases your training will be entirely on the job, so it not only costs you nothing, you’re actually getting paid to learn. In many cases, you can earn more than someone with a college degree.

Job security is great. There is ongoing demand for most trades and generally, they can’t be outsourced overseas.

Your workday is active. Medical professionals warn us of the dangers of sitting all day. In most cases, trades will have you on your feet and moving around, often bending, stretching and lifting. You might even get those six-pack abs without going to the gym.

Need help with your resume?

Give us a call! We are HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Ontario that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities.