Why not traverse a life less ordinary, says Michelle Smaglinski, one of a growing number of Canadian youth embracing a skilled trade?
When Smaglinski was in high school, she thought she had her life all planned out. "I was supposed to go to university, get my degree and get a job in an office somewhere."
Four years later, the 21-year-old Hamilton native isn't quite finished with her education, but she certainly isn't spending her days slouching in a cubicle at some office.
And she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I love being in the trades. It's really rewarding work. I like the feeling of having accomplished something at the end of the day."
Smaglinski is a third-year electrical apprentice at Mohawk College, and a member of the Ontario College of Trades. She describes her work in the industry as "challenging," and decried the “myth” that a career in trades isn't intellectually demanding.
"There are a number of technology aspects that you have to master, and you have to be able to learn on the job, as well as in the classroom," she points out. "And you can make great money. I like the idea of earning while I'm learning and unlike my friends in university, I will finish my training with no debt."
The Ontario College of Trades is the regulatory body for the skilled trades. It has a mandate to protect consumers as well as promote this career of choice to young people like Smaglinski. And it's a worthy mission.
With organizations like the Conference Board of Canada predicting that there will be a shortage of more than 360,000 skilled workers by 2025, and possibly 560,000 by 2030, the college says it is crucial that more young people embrace a career in the trades.
"Many students in community colleges have made up their minds to do it, and so have mature students looking for a career change," says the college's chief executive officer, David Tsubouchi. "But this kind of career path thinking should also start in high schools and primary schools. Social media can reach them, so can You Tube, plus our micro site also communicates with students directly."
Tsubouchi also points out that programs like the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) are making significant headway in showing students that a career in the trades can be lucrative and worthwhile. But, he says, the best advocates for getting more young people to embark on a career in trades might be actual tradespeople, like Michelle Smaglinski.
"It's hard work, but every day is different," she says. "I really love that about the trades."
