Welding is a cornerstone of Canada’s industrial growth, playing a critical role in manufacturing, construction, automotive production, and energy infrastructure. However, the industry faces significant challenges in sustaining a skilled workforce. This report examines current welding employment trends and labour market projections while providing a comprehensive analysis of post-secondary enrolment, graduation rates, and apprenticeship registrations and completions. By evaluating these factors, the report assesses how well Canada’s welding education and apprenticeship system is prepared to meet industry demand.

Key Findings:

• Employment Trends: Employment in welding-related occupations has declined over the past decade, with welders and related machine operators experiencing an average annual decline of 1.3%. While there was a significant recovery post-pandemic, employment levels remain below pre-pandemic figures. Additionally, welding remains a male-dominated field, with women making up only 3.9% of the workforce.
• Labour Market Conditions: The Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) forecasts a moderate shortage of welders between 2024 and 2033. An estimated 25,600 job openings will arise primarily due to retirements, with a closely matched supply of 25,000 job seekers entering the workforce.
• Post-secondary Education: Enrolments in welding-related post-secondary programs have seen fluctuations, peaking in 2014/2015 and reaching a low in 2020/2021. Although enrolments have recently rebounded, graduation rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, raising concerns about the future workforce supply.
• Apprenticeship Training: Welding apprenticeships have experienced a substantial decline since the early 2010s. While new apprentice registrations have shown a strong recovery post-pandemic, completion rates remain low.
• Gender and Regional Disparities: Female participation in welding education has increased, with female enrolments growing at an average annual rate of 5.1% and female graduates increasing at 8.0% over the past decade. However, women still represent a small proportion of the overall welding workforce. Regionally, Ontario and British Columbia lead in enrolments and graduations, while Alberta has the highest number of new apprentice registrations, mainly because welding is a mandatory trade in the province.
• Certification Demand: Multiple trades, including welding, face a growing gap between the number of certified workers required and actual certification completions. Welding certification requirements are expected to surpass completions between 2024 and 2028, placing most provinces at risk of labour shortages.
• Government Support and Initiatives: The Canadian government has implemented various programs to strengthen skilled trades, including apprenticeship grants, tax incentives for employers, foreign credential recognition, and awareness campaigns. However, continued efforts are needed to enhance completion rates and ensure long-term workforce sustainability.

The CWB Group is an industry-supported, private-sector organization that provides welding certification, training and education; industry-specific auditing services; and technical advice and support. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, with staff and offices across the country, CWB Group is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a Certification Body for the administration of Canadian Standards Association (CSA) welding-related standards. CWB Group works directly with stakeholders to promote and defend the interests of the industry and to meet the challenges facing the welding sector.