Everything you need to start your career
in the unionized construction industry.
Attractive salaries. Jobs in demand. Growth Opportunities. Earn while you learn. Quality lifestyle. Variety and flexibility.
A workforce that welcomes you!
There are many career options! Do you know what trade is a good fit for you? Check out the many diverse professions here.
Boilermakers build, repair, test and maintain all types of boilers, tanks and pressure vessels and related metal products for building manufacturing and industrial processes in heavy industry. They perform structural and plate work on dust, air, gas, steam, oil, water and other liquid-tight containers.
Bricklayers work with masonry materials such as brick, concrete block, stone, structural tile and pre-cast panels to construct and repair structures like walls, partitions, patios, arches, fireplaces, chimneys and other elements. They often work on commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
Carpenters construct, maintain and repair structures made of wood and wood substitutes, steel, concrete and other materials. They can work with construction companies, carpentry contractors and maintenance departments of factories, plants and other establishments, or they can be self-employed.
Cement masons/finishers construct, level and finish freshly poured concrete. They install, maintain and restore concrete structures such as foundations, floors, ceilings and walls, sidewalks, roads, patios and high-rise buildings. In this career, they can work with construction companies, cement and concrete contractors and manufacturers of precast concrete products, or can be self-employed.
Crane operators work on cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects. They can work at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines or other similar locations. There are three main types of cranes (boom trucks, mobile cranes and tower cranes) and various other types one can specialize in.
Electricians install new electrical systems and test, replace, upgrade and service existing systems in all types of buildings and structures. There's also growing demand for specialized work with controls, fiber optics and communication and computer networks.
Elevator constructors and mechanics assemble, install, maintain and repair freight and passenger elevators, escalators, moving walkways and other related equipment. In this career, they are most often employed by elevator construction and maintenance companies. They may specialize in installation, maintenance or repair.
Heavy equipment operators run heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures.
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration mechanics install, troubleshoot and repair entire heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems such as residential central air conditioning and commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Heat and frost insulators work with more than just heating and cooling, they also help reduce the passage of sound, air, smoke and fire. They are essential to every large institutional, commercial and industrial construction project in the country, as well as residential construction.
Ironworkers assemble, hoist, repair and service steel framework and other metals and materials used in buildings, bridges, highways, dams and other structures. They can manufacture refabricated construction components and buildings, and custom-fabricate fine wrought-iron architectural ornamentation.
Labourers use diverse skills in a variety of construction activities, including preparing construction sites, moving equipment and materials, installing water and sewer lines, operating hand tools, often working with concrete, and cleaning up finished sites. They are essential in assisting many other trades on site.
Millwrights install, service, diagnose and repair all types of industrial machinery and heavy equipment used in many industries. They work on a range of equipment such as pumps, compressors, turbines and mining equipment using a combination of hand, power and precision tools. Millwrights can also weld and fabricate.
Painters apply a range of coatings to beautify, identify and protect interior and exterior surfaces and structures from weather, UV, chemicals, abrasion and fire. From office towers and retail stores to bridges and pipelines, a Red Seal painter does it all.
Plumbers install, remodel and maintain systems that carry water, steam, air and other liquids or gases necessary for sanitation, industrial production, heating, air conditioning and many other systems. Because they work in all kinds of industries, there are nearly endless work opportunities.
Sheet metal workers design, create, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products, including heating, venting and air conditioning systems, pollution control systems and other metal structures. They work indoors and outdoors, on construction sites and in shops.
Sprinklerfitters build, install, inspect, maintain and repair sprinkler systems on industrial, commercial and residential sites. They can be self-employed or work with construction firms, plumbing contractors, heating and air conditioning companies, building developers or sprinkler system contractors.
Steamfitters/pipefitters build, assemble, maintain and repair piping systems that carry water, steam, chemicals or fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems. Because of this, much of their work is industrial. They work indoors or outdoors, and the job can be physically demanding.
Teamsters are involved in the transportation of materials across a wide variety of industries. Transport truck drivers operate heavy trucks via urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. They are employed by transportation, manufacturing, distribution and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies, or they may be self-employed.
Do you have the foundational skills to succeed in the construction building trades?
Create an account/log in for FREE trade-specific learning resources, videos, tutorials and more - for success in technical training and on the job!
Learn how joining a union can support you in your successful career: Great jobs, great people,
excellent pay, pension and benefits, safe working conditions, flexibility, job satisfaction and more!
The unionized building trades are the best trained, most productive, highest-quality workers in the country!
A visit to the Manitoba Building Trades Exhibition Hall is free for students from Grades 9-12. Come Try The Trades at 12 construction trades booths with hands-on and virtual activities simulating over 30 skilled trade careers.