According to theCanadian Occupational Projection System (COPS), positions that typically require a university degree are expected to have the most significant employment growth between 2022 and 2031. Meanwhile, roles that typically require a college education or apprenticeship training are projected to rank second in terms of new job opportunities.

Still, when looking at this number, it's important to understand that this isn't an across-the-board representation of jobs. So before pursuing a vocational career, you should look into occupation-specific data for where you live.

Is a Vocational School the Right Choice for Me?

Before pursuing one of the many available vocational careers, you're likely to want to know if a vocational education is the ideal path for your future.

To help figure out the answer, you may want to:

• Talk to professionals already in the field to learn about wage expectations, local demand, and more.
• Learn about the training you will need to pursue your career goals, and find out if there are local vocational training programs that can provide you with this.
• Obtain a related position in the field. For example, if you want to become a carpenter, you could seek a job as a carpenter's helper. Or, if you want to work toward a career as a chef, you could try to land a position as a dishwasher or prep cook in a commercial kitchen.
• If you're still in high school, you could complete a youth apprenticeship program, which can help you gain valuable skills and provide a glimpse of your potential career future.

What are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School?

• Career-focused education—Unlike traditional college or university programs, a vocational or technical school program can provide training that is concentrated solely on developing occupation-specific skills and knowledge. Some programs can even prepare you to obtain Red Seal certification, journeyperson certification, or licensing related to a particular profession.
• Cost-effective training—Since vocational programs tend to cut out the need for general education courses, you can enjoy a more condensed education, which can result in lower costs and less of a time commitment.
• Regularly updated curricula—Vocational training programs are generally developed with direct input from industry employers in order to produce graduates who possess the skills and knowledge needed to meet actual job demands. Because of this, many vocational schools frequently review and refine their curricula.
• Job-ready programs—By choosing a vocational education over the traditional academic route, you could obtain training that is specifically intended to help you graduate ready to move directly from the classroom into the workforce.
• Available funding—Especially in Canada, a number of government grants and other incentives are offered to those who pursue vocational careers.

Where Do I Go From Here?

Now that you are armed with answers to some of the top questions about obtaining a vocational education, you may be ready to take the next step in your journey. Begin by finding Canadian vocational schools and programs that are a match for you today!

Find a Vocational School