Your Career in Trades

an Indigenous male Automotive Service Technician working on a vehicle.

Becoming a skilled tradesperson involves learning practical skills and gaining specialized knowledge.

A career in the trades is a good choice for several reasons:

  • Most trades are essential; there will always be a need for plumbers, electricians, hairstylists, etc.
  • Trades pay well, with higher pay based on levels of training and experience
  • Apprentice tuition costs are some of the lowest in Manitoba
  • The work is challenging and rewarding
  • Working hours can often be flexible
  • For those who enjoy hands-on work, you’ll find great satisfaction in seeing the results of your labour

There are many great career choices in Manitoba and many of them begin with post-secondary education. Compare the trades with college and university and see which fits your goals.


Your
Career
Choices

College
Apprenticeship
University
Graphic that compares your career choices for either college, apprenticeship or university on four different topics as you use the left or right navigation arrows. The first topic compares the number of years of training or education. College is one to three years, Apprenticeship is two to four years, and University is three to five years.

Years

1-3
2-4
3-5
Graphic that compares your career choices for either college, apprenticeship or university on the amount of education time spent directly in a classroom: with college being 70 per cent of your time, Apprenticeship being 20 per cent of your time, and University being 100 per cent of your time.

Time in Class

70%
20%
100%
Graphic that compares your career choices for either college, apprenticeship or university on average tuition costs per year for training or education: with college being $5,598, Apprenticeship being $580, and University being $6,466.

Average Tuition

$5,598
$580
$6,466
Graphic that compares your career choices for either college, apprenticeship or university on the average student debt after completion of training or education: with college being $14,900 in debt, Apprenticeship being $0 in debt, and University being $26,300 in debt.

Average Student Debt

$14,900
$0
$26,300

Your Career Choices
Back to Top

Manitoba offers certification in over 50 trades in five sectors. You may be familiar with trades like Electrician, Plumber, Hairstylist or Cook. You can explore these and others, like Landscape Horticulturist, Lather or Industrial Mechanic.

this graphic is of a question mark.

Take the Quiz

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum offers an interactive quiz to help you explore what type of trade might suit you.

Consider if you:

  • enjoy using tools
  • prefer teamwork versus working as an individual
  • use your creativity to solve problems
  • take pride in crafting things with your own hands
  • enjoy learning new skills and working with the latest technology
  • prefer working indoors or outdoors
Take the Quiz
this graphic shows an block image of the province of Manitoba along with an arrow pointing upwards.

Workforce and Manitoba Demand

There is an increasing number of jobs available in the trades. Manitoba tracks and reports which jobs are in greatest demand. Explore the jobs with the most opportunity for employment.

Job Outlook at Manitoba Labour Market
text balloon commonly used in comic books that includes an arrow 'play button'.

Hear from Someone in the Trades.

Listen to the stories of 10 certified tradespeople and learn what they love about working in their trade.

Watch the Videos
Back to Top