If you take a look for those trying to get in to trades, it isn't easy. Almost every job lead requires someone that isn't a first year apprentice. And the most likely way to start as an apprentice is through personal connections and those positions don't get publicly advertised. I know because I was there and I did it. I busted *** as general labour with a contractor helping out whatever subcontractors were in doing their respective jobs. I had a few of them comment on how quick I picked things up, and always had good job reviews. I even was eager enough to ask for the opportunity and they never opened up.
I then worked for 2 years with one of the largest propane companies in Canada in a specialized position as a "general labourer". I ended up operating some large pieces of equipment with nothing but on the job training... Pieces of equipment that I should have gone to school to learn to use. And I was very good at it. Me and my immediate boss were a 2 man team and had the best performance of any of the other teams in the province by far. I took an interest to learn a gas fitters position as it related directly to an aspect of the job and I was again, without formal schooling doing a skilled job fitting propane lines, doing fuel conversions, trouble shooting and fixing customers appliances, all because of my aptitude and interest. 2 years, and I was still on a "temporary basis" with the company, no full time benefits, no raise, and they wouldn't give me an official apprenticeship, after 2 years of working 50 hours a week making $14/hr when I should have been easily making $20 considering I was operating expensive machinery in close proximity to customers homes and businesses... If the company trusted my work enough to do that, and that I was capable as a fitter I felt I had more than deserved an apprenticeship. I gave them notice I was signing up for the military and that they had about a month to decide if they were going to give me the position "full time." They didn't come through by the time I got my offer from the military, so I quit as soon as I got off the phone from the recruitment center.
I also had an auto body apprenticeship when I was 19. I got laid off in the summer when work slowed down and that was that. The other shops in town also had done the same.
I grew up on a farm, rebuilt my first engine on my own when I was 14, had jobs doing everything from framing, roofing, factory work etc so I had a very wide base to build from, a hard work ethic and a natural aptitude for trades work and I only managed to become something by joining the military.
I had a girlfriend who spent 4 years in university, graduated and ended up doing the same job she did in high school... She is now in college for a job that I see very little job openings for since there are so many graduates from the course in the last few years.
It's not easy for my generation. I'm not saying opportunities aren't out there, but they sure aren't plentiful, and too many eat up the "university = golden ticket" puke.
