Skilled Trades Unlock Global Career Opportunities

Skilled trades are often overlooked when people think about careers that let you work overseas—but they deserve more attention. Demand for tradespeople is rising worldwide, and many trades remain relatively insulated from automation because they rely on hands-on skill, immediate problem-solving and in-person expertise. That combination provides both stability and the possibility to work in other countries.

Below we summarize new research from HomeStars, the home-service hiring platform, which highlights an awareness gap around trade careers and the international mobility those careers can offer.

Canadians interested in careers with international mobility

HomeStars found that among Canadians aged 18 to 34, nearly six in 10 are interested in careers that would allow them to work abroad on a work visa, with Europe and Australia being the top destinations. Across all age groups, 49% of Canadian adults said they were open to careers that include opportunities to work overseas.

Regional differences emerged: residents of Ontario—closely followed by Québec—showed the strongest interest in jobs that include travel or the option to emigrate. Nearly half of Ontarians said they would consider job options that allow them to relocate abroad. These provinces also rank among those with higher costs of living in Canada, according to Statistics Canada, which may help explain why relocation options appeal to many people.

How a skilled trade can unlock international job opportunities

It’s a misconception that a trade limits you to the province or region where you trained. As Colleen McGrory of HomeStars points out, “Skilled trades are in high demand across the globe. It’s not just Canada that has a shortage of tradespeople.” Many countries face an aging trades workforce. The U.S. Institute for Quality reports that in numerous markets, over one-third of skilled workers are age 50 or older and retirement is shrinking the available labour pool, creating opportunities for younger workers to fill the gap.

This shortage of vocational workers can be an advantage if you’re willing to move for work. Yet the study found that only about half of young people realize trades can enable emigration. McGrory notes the disconnect between young Canadians’ interest in moving abroad and their limited awareness of trades as a pathway to international work.

Many trades translate well to international assignments: electricians are sought for infrastructure and industrial projects, HVAC technicians can be in demand in rapidly developing climates, welders often find work in shipbuilding and energy sectors, and construction project specialists are needed in regions experiencing building booms. Although HomeStars respondents most commonly mentioned Europe and Australia as destinations, labour shortages in skilled trades are a global issue—for example, some EU countries report shortages in plant and machine operators, electricians and assemblers.

Trades also appeal to younger workers considering a career change: 34% of those under 35 expressed interest in retraining into a trade, compared with 23% of older adults. With flexible work arrangements and travel becoming more important to many early-career workers, vocational training can be an attractive option for those seeking both stability and mobility.

Related reading: How to become a contractor

Additional survey findings

Historically, skilled trades have had low female representation. Statistics Canada reports that in 2022 only 7% of skilled trade workers were women. The HomeStars study suggests interest in trades is rising among women: 15% of women surveyed said they would consider retraining into a trade.

Concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence may also be nudging people toward vocational careers. Roughly half of men and women surveyed (50% of men and 49% of women) said they worry about how AI could affect their future jobs. Because trades are practical, hands-on professions that require in-person work and situational judgment, many roles may be less vulnerable to automation.

“Becoming a contractor—whether at home or abroad—offers a variety of benefits as a career,” McGrory said. “With growing concern about AI’s impact on future jobs, it’s clear many people are seeking careers that offer long-term security. Skilled trades can provide that stability.”

Making the connection

Emigration and interest in working abroad are rising across demographic groups, but many Canadians of working age may not realize how practical trades can be as a pathway to living and working overseas. Closing the awareness gap between myths about trade careers and the real opportunities they offer could encourage more people to pursue vocational training—even if they eventually choose to emigrate.

Read more about careers:

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• Ontario’s new pay transparency rules will shake up hiring
• Why you should upgrade your skills—even if you’re established in your career