It’s no secret that Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry has lots of jobs to fill across many different departments.
But there’s one particular area that’s in great demand: the skilled trades.
What is a skilled trade?
A skilled trade is an occupation that requires a special skill, knowledge or ability which can be obtained at a college, technical school or through specialized training.
In Canada, there are over 300 designated skilled trades but not all these certifications are available in each province. Ontario has 144 different skilled trades that fall into the following categories
Construction: includes electricians, carpenters, plumbers and more
Transportation: includes service technicians, painters and heavy-duty equipment mechanics
Manufacturing: includes trades such as tool & die cutters, millwrights, precision metal fabricators
Service: includes butchers, cooks, landscapers
Skilled trades are often overlooked by many as a career path. A lot of this is due to some misconceptions
One of those misconceptions is that skilled trades are only for people “that don’t do well in school.” That’s simply not true.
Skilled trades actually involve a lot of problem-solving, analytical thinking and technical know-how. For example, you could need to diagnose a problem for a sophisticated piece of equipment or computer software. You could have a bachelor’s degree and your master’s, but that won’t necessarily give you these kinds of skills.
Becoming certified in a skilled trade takes a specific kind of education, one that involves not just theory, but hands-on learning and understanding complex machinery and equipment. They are professions where you need both think critically and work with your hands!
Specializing in a skilled trade not only means less expensive post-secondary education, it could also mean a prosperous, well-paying career with lots of opportunities to move and grow.
But what specific trades is Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry looking for right now?
Skilled Trades in Demand in Ontario’s Food and Beverage Processing Industry
Here are the top three:
Millwright
A millwright is a professional that installs, maintains, repairs and troubleshoots industrial equipment in factories and production plants.
Throughout the process they are focused on adhering to food safety standards. They also design and fabricate equipment to improve how well factories are running.
There are many Ontario food and beverage processing companies currently looking for Millwrights including:
Electrician
In the food and beverage processing industry, the electrician is responsible for the skilled tasks such as installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing and modifying complex industrial equipment, processes and system. They perform preventative and corrective or equipment failures.
Some of the Ontario food and beverage processing companies looking for Electricians right now include
Maintenance Mechanic/Technicians
Maintenance mechanics/technicians and are responsible for the upkeep of the building and the company’s mechanical systems, such as heating and cooling systems and operational equipment. Sometimes, they split their time between repair, maintenance, and the installation of system components and office hours. They are often on-call to perform emergency repairs, which necessitates the ability to troubleshoot promptly. People often come into these roles as millwrights or electricians.
Some Ontario food and beverage processing companies currently looking for maintenance mechanics/technicians include:
Find skilled trades jobs and more in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry
Sign up for a FREE CareersNOW! Jobseeker account! As a CareersNOW! Jobseeker, you’ll have access to free Job Ready skills training, online job fairs, mentorship sessions, and other resources to learn more about the exciting opportunities in Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector.
Also, check out the previous CareersNOW! Mentorship sessions featuring insights from skilled trade professionals in the industry below!
