A contractor and developer who spoke at last week's Sustainable Huron meeting on Getting Housing Built says one of the challenges they face is a shortage of people in the skilled trades.
Larry Otten says the skilled trades have not been adequately promoted as a career path by either parents or educators. Otten points out that is not limited certain skilled trades, either.
“Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heating guys. It would also include architects, engineers, multiple disciplines of engineering, land surveyors, so there's many career pathways that one could choose to be in construction," Otten explained.
But he says the trades in particular have really struggled over the past few years in attracting young people to choose that path as a career option.
Otten says the skilled trades offer security in a well paying job as well as a rewarding career.
“So some of that is how do we promote our industry better, how do we change the mind sets of, say parents, why aren't parents encouraging kids to be in the trades. When it comes to guidance counsellors or teachers, what can we do to encourage them to steer kids or at least make them aware of options," added Otten.
Otten says the Perth Huron Builders Association is working with the high schools in the two counties to raise awareness of the benefits of a career in the skilled trades, and trying to provide incentives to encourage young people to consider the skilled trades as a possible career.