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Labour Market Statistics
Currently in Calgary there is a tremendous need for apprentices and technicians in the mechanic trades. For example in The Calgary Sun 0254 Skilled and Trades section dated Monday, September 11, 2006, there were 17 ads for auto service technicians or apprentices, 7 ads for auto body technicians or apprentices, and 10 ads for heavy duty technicians or apprentices.
For more detailed information on the Calgary Labour Market, select a topic from the list:
Size of Industry
Listed below is the size of the industry as identified in trade profile information 2006 Alberta Human Resources and Employment (produced February 2006). Note: employment turnover for all of the below occupations is expected to increase as members of the baby-boom generation retire over the next five to ten years.
Occupation |
NOC* |
Projected Growth |
# of people |
Salary (2006 Estimate) |
Auto Service Technician
Minimum Education:
Apprenticeship Grade 10 |
7321 |
Employment turn-over plus average occupational growth |
0ver 15,450
employed in Alberta |
$20 - $24 per hour plus benefits with average annual salary @ $48,600 |
Heavy Duty Technicians
Minimum Education:
Apprenticeship Grade 11 |
7312 |
Employment turn-over plus average occupational growth |
0ver 8,950 employed in Alberta |
$18 - $30 per hour plus benefits with average annual salary @ $55,900 |
Auto Body Repairers Minimum Education: Apprenticeship Grade 10 |
7322 |
Employment turn-over plus below average growth |
0ver 3,350 employed in Alberta |
$17 - $26 per hour plus benefits with average annual salary @ $43,700 |
Motive-Action’s basic mechanics training can also assist clients who are interested in other occupations. In the past Motive-Action has successfully placed clients in parts technician and motorcycle mechanic positions. The employment opportunities for these positions are as follows:
Occupation |
NOC* |
Projected Growth |
# of people |
Salary (2006 Estimate) |
Parts Technician
Minimum Education:
Apprenticeship Grade 10 |
1472 |
Employment turn-over plus average occupational growth |
0ver 4,500 employed in Alberta |
$13 - $25 per hour plus benefits with average annual salary @ $35,100 |
Motorcycle Mechanic
Minimum Education:
Apprenticeship Grade 10 |
7334 |
Employment turn-over plus average occupational growth |
0ver 400 employed in Alberta |
$15 - $28 per hour plus benefits with average annual salary @ $38,400 |
Job Availability
Another perspective on the need for workers in Calgary is provided in Top 50 Occupations in Calgary Economic Region by Vacancy Rate. The data source for this information is the 2005 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey prepared by Data Development and Evaluation Branch, Alberta Human Resources and Employment. The Top 50 Occupations in Calgary Economic Region by Vacancy Rate chart (right) shows the mechanics trades in positions 1, 2 & 8 out of the top 50 occupations indicating a definite need.
Top 50 Occupations in Calgary Economic Region by Vacancy Rate (August 2006) |
# |
NOC |
Projected Growth |
Estimated Job Vacancy Rate |
% Yes
Hiring Difficulty |
% No
Hiring Difficulty |
% N/A
Hiring Difficulty |
1 |
7321 |
Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Mechanical Repairers |
10.14% |
48.86% |
45.45% |
5.68% |
2 |
7321.1 |
Automotive Service Technicians |
10.11% |
49.23% |
43.08% |
7.69% |
8 |
7312 |
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics |
5.75% |
43.86% |
45.61% |
10.53% |
Number of Employers in Calgary
In addition to the 200+ businesses that have already dealt with Motive-Action there are numerous opportunities to add to placement hosts. According to the 2006 Calgary Yellow Pages there are over 1,450 businesses that employ trades people.
Employer Category |
# of Employers |
Auto agencies/dealers |
147 |
Auto body repair |
172 |
Auto detailing |
68 |
Auto repair/service |
400 |
New/used trucks |
76 |
Retail auto parts supplier |
119 |
Tire dealers |
47 |
Transmission service |
50 |
Truck lines |
284 |
Truck repairing |
37 |
Used auto parts |
17 |
Wholesale auto parts |
66 |
Occupation Wages and Starting Rates of Pay
As indicated in the charts above, individuals who complete their apprenticeship can look forward to above average levels of income. With regard to starting wages, however, as with all apprenticeship positions, wages continue to remain low. The Motive-Action August 2006 Employer Survey (52 respondents) indicates that the average starting wage is $11/hr. Although there has been a marked increase (25% by our numbers) in recent years, this figure is still lower than the $14 minimum requested in the RFP.
This practice of paying low starting wages in the trades has gone on for generations. The situation was the same in Europe in the 1940’s when the writer’s father saw work colleagues quit their apprenticeships to earn more money in labour jobs only to be overtaken in wage earnings and job security just a few years later.
Another impediment to increasing the wage is the apprenticeship system itself which limits 1st year wages to 55% of journeyman wage for auto service and auto body apprentices and 60% for heavy-duty apprentices. Thankfully the % goes up to 70% for the 2nd year apprentices.
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