Employed Windsor worker thinks trades are the way to go

The latest unemployment figures are out and Windsor edged up slightly last month. The rate was 5.3 per cent in October but went up to 5.7 per cent in November.

• Slight increase in Windsor unemployment numbers
• Windsor's unemployment rate up to 10%
• Windsor picked to deliver new Ontario employment pilot project

But despite the seeming availability of jobs, some workers are hoping some post-secondary training gets them ready for in-demand careers.

When the Slots at Racetrack Program ended, Paulina Sobczak lost her job in Guelph and needed to find a new line of work.

So she moved back to Windsor, her hometown, and started handing out resumes.

"It's not easy if you have no qualifications for things that they're looking for," she said.

Sobczak finally landed a job at a gas station. But now she wants to work in the trades and is enrolled in the Pre-Apprenticeship program at St. Clair College.

"I feel really good about this, I feel like I'll actually find something career worthy so I really enjoy the program," she said. "I hope I stay in this industry."

Windsor still has the 9th-lowest unemployment rate, among larger Canadian cities, tied with Kingston.

There is still a huge demand in the tool and die sector and there are more jobs than there are people to fill them, according to Robert Chittim, chair of St. Clair College's School of Skilled Trades.

"These jobs are in high demand." said Chittim.

And with many skilled trades workers retiring and fewer people moving into trades, the shortage is expected to continue.

"Opportunities are coming with the retirement of the baby boomers. The flood gates are already open on that, and companies see that we're going to be hit hard the next three to five years," Chittim said.