From baker <strong>to</strong> bricklayer <strong>to</strong> cabinetmaker,occupations in the trades and technicalfields are as varied as Alberta’s population. ”
<strong>Skilled</strong> <strong>Calgary</strong> 200901WorldSkills in <strong>Calgary</strong>In Alberta, there are 50 provincially designatedtrades and 9 designated occupations, runningfrom baker <strong>to</strong> bricklayer <strong>to</strong> cabinetmaker. Whilethis may sound like something of a nurseryrhyme, the truth is that occupations in the tradesand technical fields are as varied as Alberta’spopulation. The careers offered in these fields<strong>to</strong>uch almost every sec<strong>to</strong>r of the economy and playa role in the everyday life of all Calgarians – thehouses we live in, the cars we drive, the buses weride, the buildings where we work, the technologywe use <strong>to</strong> communicate, and the food that we eatare just a few of the things that are made possibleby skilled tradespeople. These workers buildthe foundations of <strong>our</strong> prosperity, and keep themachinery of <strong>our</strong> economy running.Between 2005 and 2008, <strong>Calgary</strong> experienceda skills and lab<strong>our</strong> shortage indicative of anapproaching structural and demographic shiftin employment in <strong>Calgary</strong> and around the globe.And while current economic conditions haveimpacted the day-<strong>to</strong>-day demand for <strong>talent</strong>, theworkforce challenges still <strong>to</strong> come are expected <strong>to</strong>eclipse past lab<strong>our</strong> shortages. Canada’s populationis increasingly older and the number of peopleapproaching the age of retirement has hit a recordhigh. Statistics Canada forecasts that it may takeonly 10 years before Canada has more people atthe age where they can leave the lab<strong>our</strong> force thanpeople at the age where they can begin working.There is no hiding from the forecasted shortageof lab<strong>our</strong> – the retirement of baby boomers aswell as the creation of new jobs will mean strongdemand across a variety of industries andoccupational categories. <strong>Skilled</strong> trades will bein particularly high demand. In fact, according<strong>to</strong> the “<strong>Calgary</strong> Employment Demand Forecast”released by <strong>Calgary</strong> Economic Development in2007, jobs requiring college or apprenticeshiptraining represent the largest segment of jobs <strong>to</strong>be created in the next decade in <strong>Calgary</strong>.The skills required for manyconventional occupations arechanging rapidly, and many skillsare quickly becoming dated asnew jobs, new technologies andnew industries emerge. ”<strong>Calgary</strong> is hosting the 2009 WorldSkillsCompetition this coming September. <strong>Calgary</strong>Economic Development is of the belief that thisinternational competition provides us with aunique opportunity <strong>to</strong> highlight the contributionthat skills occupations make <strong>to</strong> <strong>our</strong> economy.This report will cover not only the number ofpeople employed in these occupations in <strong>Calgary</strong>,it will also show the career and lifestyle benefits<strong>to</strong> choosing an occupation in the skilled tradesor technologies and will demonstrate how theseoccupations play a part in increasing Alberta’sproductivity and competitiveness.The purpose of this report is <strong>to</strong> provokediscussion among students, parents, careercounselors, human res<strong>our</strong>ces professionals, andthe general public about the true value of thesevocations <strong>to</strong> the continued prosperity of <strong>Calgary</strong>and Alberta. It also addresses some of the stigmasassociated with working in the trades and technicalcareers, in an attempt <strong>to</strong> shift perceptions thatthese occupations are somehow less valuablethan professional roles within <strong>our</strong> society.
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