New research shows the majority of teens would consider a job in the skilled trades over college knowing the pay is higher than average
National Careers in Trades Week (NCIT), which took place April 6-10, 2026, comes at an opportune time for people across Canada seeking rewarding, essential careers with excellent pay and strong benefits, including extended healthcare and pensions.
Professions in the skilled trades will experience faster-than-average job growth between 2024 and 2034, and the Occupational Outlook predicts over 600,000 construction job openings each year and a current median annual wage remaining higher than the median for all occupations. Trade jobs also do not result in debt that can accompany a college path. And according to Construction Labor Research Council, workers are averaging pay hikes above 4%, as employers look to attract and retain workers in a tight labor market.
New research conducted by Wakefield Research on SMACNA National’s behalf of shows that 75 percent of teens aged 13-18 would consider a trade job over going to college. The most compelling reasons for teens opting for a trade over college are higher pay, good benefits, and paid apprenticeships. Other considerations include opportunity to be promoted (24%), knowing a job is vital to the economy (21%), and the number of available trade positions growing faster than the average job (19%).
“Skilled professions offer rewarding career opportunities for all people, including young adults, women, veterans, and anyone who is looking for a career change,” said SMACNA CEO Frank Wall. “The wages and job security trade careers offer provide a faster means to home ownership, upward mobility, and saving for retirement that other pathways don’t always ensure.”
Throughout National Careers in Trades Week, cross-industry visibility efforts showcased the benefits of choosing careers in the skilled trades among job seekers and the public. The goal is to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs that are essential to national and global economies and infrastructure projects, including, for example, the construction of chip plants, stadiums, healthcare facilities, factories, and data centers.
“There is a lot that has changed about our country over the years: technology, artificial intelligence, you name it. But one thing that won’t ever change is this simple fact: We need skilled trades workers to build our country,” said Michael Coleman, General President of SMART. “SMART members are doing that from coast to coast, whether building new hospitals, ensuring air quality in schools, or making sure apartment and office buildings run as efficiently as possible. We’re excited to shine a light on the many career paths available to workers in our industry during National Careers in Trades Week—and well beyond.”
Learn more at nationalcareersintrades.com ■
