Especially when our trades schools are backlogged and there are year long waitlists at the least. We could make that shortage a lot smaller of a number by 2020 if we stepped those classes up so there were more people being taken in each year. Why not have enough classes so that no one has to wait to get into trades training. Then, by the time 2020 came around we’d be short maybe half or a third of the workers we’ve foreseen being short. It’s such a simple solution to a huge problem. The students going through these trades programs this year will be journeyman by 2011, so you can see how stepping up the schools at this time would make a huge impact later on down the road in 2020.

When people hear, “trades shortage,” I don’t think they think too much about it, it’s more of an oh well, no big deal sort of thing, since most people do their jobs on computers. When really it’s a huge deal. Where would people put their computers if they didn’t have a building to put them in? Where would all the other workers in the other professions live if they didn’t have homes to go back to at the end of the day? How would people get to and from places without working vehicles? How would people see or do anything in this day and age without electricity?

I just ask everyone to think twice about the words “trades shortage”. It’s a good and rewarding business to get into, perfect for those who have kids in high school right now to think about. Trades is going to have all the work anyone could ever need in the upcoming lifetime. I know most people as parents believe that going to school forever and getting degrees is the only way their kids will make money, and they shouldn’t be throwing away their grades by going into trades.

I have all A’s and B’s (more A’s then B’s), I received academic honours every year through high school, I received acknowledgment in work experience programs in Science and Applied Science, and Trades and Technology. I was planning on going on to university and all that, that’s why I didn’t transfer to a trades high school, I decided to keep my doors open.

Here I am today, I’ve decided to go into trades, I’ve been accepted into BCIT for Entry Level Trades Training, and I’m waiting to start in January. By the time the summer comes, I will be a second year apprentice and making $12 to $17 an hour coming straight out of school. I decided it was the right way for me to go, and I hope that many other high school kids believe it is for them too, so that hopefully by the time 2020 comes around, our country won’t have to pay extra money to give our work away.