Shortage of skilled tradespeople predicted

Boardmember Bill Carroll says the situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

“We’ve lost the interest of young people,” said Carroll.

“We haven’t done a good job of promoting the skilled trades as being a viable future for the young people in the country. Right now in this province, we’re feeling the effects of out migration,” he said.

Carroll maintains that skilled workers are being lost to the west, and that impending baby boomer retirements in the next 10 to 15 years will add to the problem.

He promotes careers in the skilled trades as possibly being more lucrative and providing faster rewards than those that require university degrees.

“In four years working towards a journeyman’s status in the skilled trades, you get paid as you progress towards your goal,” he said.

As former co-owner of Germain Mechanical & Electrical Carpentry Ltd., Carroll says similar companies are desperate for electrical, plumbing, welding, and boatbuilding tradespeople.

He targeted a demand for workmanship in building specific vessels.

Everett Titus, marine superintendent at

A.F.Theriault & Son Ltd in Meteghan River supports some of Carroll’s comments.

Their company does have enough welders on staff at present and Titus says he believes they could hire more if required but they have been struggling with finding good high quality experienced yacht finish carpenters.

“We have managed to get by, by subcontracting some work out to other shops in the province, however I expect that by mid July due to work commitments finishing off, it should ease off on our carpenters.

“We are looking however for two persons with good boatbuilding backgrounds to carry out estimates, material takeoff, etc. These are difficult to find.

“As you know, the boat building and repair around the province is not all that strong at this time therefore we have experienced some inquiries from laid off workers from other boat shops. We have taken a few but we cannot take them all,” said Titus.