‘Too many kids get starry eyed’: some skilled trades jobs not guaranteed

One expert says he believes graduates are being misled into believing its easy to get a full-time job with excellent pay in the skilled trades.

A Master electrician and former teacher says he believes graduates are being misled into believing its easy to get a full-time job with excellent pay in the skilled trades.

“Too many kids get starry eyed,” said Jeff Keyeux, a master electrician, licenced electrical contractor, small business owner and former part-time teacher at St. Clair College. “They go to the college…and they’re met with a wall.”

That is what happened to Emma Al-Tamimi, a 2023 Electrical Techniques graduate from St. Clair College.

“There was so much media attention. So much money was going into it,” said Al-Tamimi. “I thought I was going to find a job but no such luck yet.”

Under the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, to become a licenced electrician, you must complete 9,000 hours as a registered apprentice. The current ratio of journeypersons to apprentices for electricians is generally a 1:1 ratio.

“It’s a success for the college but the kids are now making cold calls,” explained Keyeux. “First thing I ask is why do you want to become an electrician? And if they say because of the money, it’s almost an X,” said Keyeux.

A written statement from St. Clair College reads:

St. Clair College has increased the student intake in the Electrical Techniques program in recent years to align with student demand, as this continues to be a very popular program in the School of Skilled Trades. The demand coincides with the provincial government’s desire to get more people into skilled trades.

The program is designed to provide fundamental and foundational skillsets when upon graduation, students can follow many different career paths, including getting into an apprenticeship as well as a multitude of other jobs in related fields. Some graduates utilize the College-attained essential employability skills or transferable skills to enter other professions where job availability exists, while others choose to continue their post-secondary studies.

St. Clair is fulfilling its mandate to ensure graduates of the Electrical Techniques program are prepared to enter apprenticeships, but the institution has no control over external factors such as the economy, market conditions and government regulation, which all play a part in driving the job market. St. Clair College is very transparent about the fact that there is no job placement during or after the program but encourages students to consider pathways to further their education to increase their employment prospects.

Keyeux says hiring an apprentice comes with a cost burden to any company.

“I’m paying you so I can teach you. I’m no longer productive. Why would somebody want to do this?” he asks “I hope they’re doing it because they realized that the only way there’s going to be more tradespeople is if you go through this.”

He says a major issue is some apprentices eventually decide the skilled trades are not for them.

“I have to make sure. Is this person committed?” said Keyeux.