In support of her father

This post is in response to our 2013 article quoting economist Don Drummond (in 2013) who called the skilled trades shortage… “a mirage.”

After raising us, our father, instead of buying a red sports car for his midlife crisis went to school and got a three-year degree (with honors) in the industrial/electrical field. Two years down the road, he has made over 600-plus applications and has only received a few offers at minimum wage in the Greater Toronto Area (we live four hours north). Among the few others that called back, not from the GTA, one wanted a personal interview and would not consent to the first one being done over Skype. That company was 7 hours away and their offer was a few pennies over minimum wage.

The man is in better shape that most 18 years olds, has a well-functioning brain, has hands that can build or fix almost anything, doesn’t check his phone every five seconds and yet he has nothing on the horizon. Sure, he has had job offers for labor and driving (he drove heavy floats before for a company that offered good time off and benefits – an important feature for a single dad). Offers in his electrical field? None.

Samantha Madisson G