Canada must address persistent stigma surrounding skilled trades to meet its ambitious housing and infrastructure goals, federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday. Speaking at the University of Ottawa, Hajdu highlighted the need to shift societal attitudes that have long favored university education over vocational training.

Recalling her own experience growing up in Thunder Bay, Hajdu noted that students enrolled in skilled trades programs faced significant social stigma. “There was a push that the true path to success and to status was to gain a university degree,” she said. Hajdu emphasized that this perception is outdated, pointing out that many trades careers offer successful and well-paying opportunities comparable to, or exceeding, those found in university paths.

Supporting this view, France Daviault, CEO of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, acknowledged in correspondence that while negative perceptions of trades careers persist, attitudes are gradually evolving. Daviault attributed this to growing labor shortages and increased awareness of the earning potential and impact of trade professions, which is encouraging more individuals to consider trades as a viable first choice rather than a fallback option.

Prime Minister Mark Carney recently described the present as an opportune time for young Canadians to engage in the skilled trades amid the federal government’s planned long-term investments in housing and infrastructure. Hajdu echoed this sentiment, stressing the availability of well-paid, quality jobs in trades fields and urged youth to explore these career paths.

However, the government’s messaging has faced criticism. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, the party’s jobs critic, accused the Liberals of inconsistency, pointing to the recent federal budget’s proposal to restrict the Canada Student Grant program to public institutions. He argued this move could limit access to private vocational schools where many trades training programs are offered. “It is quite dissonant that the minister is saying some of the right things about addressing stigma, but her government is putting forward policy that contradicts that,” Genuis said.

The Jobs Minister also addressed broader employment challenges for young Canadians. Citing Statistics Canada data showing a youth unemployment rate of 13.8 percent in March 2026, Hajdu described the trend as “deeply concerning,” warning that prolonged unemployment can impede both career progression and lifetime earnings.

A 2025 report from the Labour Market Information Council pointed to changing dynamics in education and employment. Traditionally, university graduates faced fewer job market obstacles than those with college diplomas or apprenticeship certificates. Recently, however, the situation has reversed, partly due to an expanding number of university graduates competing for a shrinking pool of degree-required jobs. Report authors attributed this shift in part to automation, noting that health care and trades jobs are less susceptible to replacement by artificial intelligence.

In response, Hajdu said the federal government is collaborating with industry sectors to better align training and education with labor market needs. She also indicated ongoing efforts to develop incentives that support apprenticeships and training completion, aiming to counteract potential skill shortages as older workers retire.

Daviault highlighted completion rates for apprenticeships remain a critical challenge, citing financial barriers during in-school training and workplace culture issues faced by groups including women and Indigenous apprentices. She recommended enhanced federal funding for provincial and employer training initiatives, combined with income supports for apprentices, to improve outcomes.

To complement these efforts, the government plans to open applications next week for 100,000 placements through the Canada Summer Jobs program, aimed at improving youth employment prospects amid a challenging labor market.