Jobs & Money Detail
Canada's most wanted: Carpenters
David Fuller takes a look at the opportunities available across the Atlantic for those hoping to put their carpentry skills to good use
It's no secret that Canada is crying out for trade workers at present.
In its 2008 Talent Shortage survey, leading worldwide employment agency Manpower Inc revealed that skilled manual trade workers are currently the most in demand group of workers in Canada, with carpenters / jointers one of the occupations cited as being particularly needed across the Atlantic.
The website www.workingincanada.gc.ca states that most employers who advertise for carpenters are looking for workers who have the following:
n Three to five years experience.
n Specific skills which include the ability to: operate power tools; measure, cut, shape, assemble and join mouldings, wood materials, drywall and plastics materials; and fit and install windows, doors, stairs, mouldings and hardware.
n Additional skills, which include reading and interpreting blueprints, drawings and set specifications.
Andrew Hemington, originally from Seaford in East Sussex and now living in Calgary, Alberta, on a temporary visa (for the time being at least), is unlike many carpenters working in Canada in the respect that he holds no formal carpentry qualifications.
"I spent my first 20 working years as a glazier," he explains. "After that I started buying up old houses, renovating them and re-selling them again. This usually involved some woodwork amongst all the other building skills.
"But I only took up carpentry as a hobby about five years ago in my little workshop at home. My Dad was a master carpenter so I just took to it and loved it, but I hold no official qualifications or recognised experience to speak of."
Yet this didn't hold him back in his job search.
"I entered Canada on a temporary work permit, sponsored by a stair company. We do the curved and twisted decorative stairs that you sometimes see in houses," Andrew continues. "I had an interview in October 2006 and we were on the plane out here in April 2007. I started work two weeks later.
"I am tied to this particular employer until we get our permanent residency (hopefully some time this month!)."
His lack of qualifications have not proved to be a problem with regards to doing the work, either.
"The company gave me a month's training with another guy just to learn how they do things in this particular company, and then sent me off on my own. They gave me a company van and all the machines and tools you could think of on the day I started."
In terms of the work itself, Andrew believes that British workers will not find it all that different from what they have been used to in the UK.
"I have spent all my working life in and around job sites, both domestic and commercial in some form or other, and Canadian jobs sites aren't that different from British sites," he explains. "That said, I think Canadians are more advanced, certainly better tooled up and generally have a more professional approach to everything.
"You don't get the 'John and Dave Bodgit Builders' type firms you can get in the UK."
Not that there aren't some small differences. "They have different names for some products. For example, skirting boards are 'base boards'. It can take a few weeks to know what they are talking about," admits Andrew.
Canada's weather is another factor some British carpenters may wish to consider when thinking about possibly continuing their career in Canada.
"There are different types of carpentry," explains Andrew. "Cribbing (putting up formwork to pour concrete into), framing (in other words building the timber frame work for the houses), and finish carpentry, which is what I do.
"For cribbing and framing you are always outside and working even when it's -30oC. However, doing what I do, you are inside in the warm all year round. Last winter I was still working when it was -47oC outside."
According to the www.jobfutures.ca website, the job prospects for carpenters in Canada between now and 2009 are rated as 'fair', with the number of retiring workers set to contribute to job openings.
However, Andrew believes that in some areas, such as Calgary, the job prospects for carpenters are much better than fair.
"As far as I know there is still more work here than you can shake a stick at," he says. "People talk about it slowing down but they are just starting work on another 30,000 houses north of the airport here in Calgary, so I'd say there is still plenty of room for more British carpenters."
The Hemingtons have two-bedroom accommodation space which they are happy to let out to those of you heading out to the Calgary area on a research trip from CDN$100 a night. To find out more, email Andrew: aphemington@hotmail.co.uk
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