Exploring Youth and Indigenous People’s Apprenticeship Recruitment in Energy and Natural Resource Sectors Survey
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) is working on a project to better support youth and Indigenous peoples entering the skilled trades in the energy and natural resources sectors. This work is being funded by Natural Resources Canada.
CAF-FCA is a non-profit organization that provides research and data to advance best practices in apprenticeship.
The purpose of this survey is to understand your thoughts about careers in the skilled trades and the connection between the green economy and the trades. The information we collect from this survey will help us write a report.
The survey is for Canadian residents under the age of 30. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Joining this discussion is your choice. You can stop participating at any time. You can also choose not to answer some questions or ask to have your information removed from the report any time before February 15, 2026.
What you share will stay private. Your name will not be used, and your answers will be grouped with others. All notes will be safely destroyed after the project ends in March 2026.
We created this guide with care, but some questions about bad experiences might make you feel upset. If you feel upset or need help during this process, please reach out to the resources available to you:
- Hope for Wellness: 1-855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca
- 24/7 Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- 24/7 Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Support: 1-800-721-0066
For questions about the survey, or if you would like to stop participating in the project, please let Emily Arrowsmith, Director of Research and Programs, CAF-FCA, know by February 15, 2026.
Skilled Trades Careers in the Natural Resources Sector
The natural resources sector includes energy, minerals and metals and forestry. It includes a variety of trades occupations which are outlined below.
1) Energy Resources
Energy resources may include:
- Oil and gas (exploration, extraction, refining, distribution)
- Coal mining
- Hydroelectric power
- Renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, biomass)
Common trades occupations include:
- Electricians (industrial, construction, power systems)
- Powerline technicians (installation and maintenance of transmission systems)
- Millwrights/industrial mechanics (maintain turbines, pumps, compressors)
- Welders (pipelines, structural fabrication)
- Heavy equipment operators (excavators, bulldozers, cranes)
- Steamfitters/pipefitters (oil & gas pipelines, processing facilities)
- Instrumentation and control technicians (automation in power plants, refineries, renewable systems)
- Wind turbine technicians and solar photovoltaic installers (emerging green energy trades)
2) Minerals and Metals
Minerals and metals may include:
- Critical minerals (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, nickel)
- Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)
- Base metals (copper, zinc, lead)
- Industrial minerals (potash, gypsum, salt, limestone)
Common trade occupations include:
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (maintain trucks, drills, loaders)
- Welders and boilermakers (processing plants, smelters)
- Industrial electricians (mining operations, smelting, refining)
- Machinists (repair and manufacture of parts)
- Construction trades (carpenters, concrete finishers, ironworkers) for mine site development
3) Forestry and Forest Products
Forestry and forest products may include:
- Timber and logging
- Pulp and paper
- Wood products (lumber, panels, biomass fuels)
- Sustainable forest management
Common trade occupations include:
- Heavy-duty mechanics (repair logging and sawmill equipment)
- Industrial electricians (mills, pulp and paper plants)
- Millwrights (sawmills, pulp and paper mills)
- Truck drivers (long-haul and logging trucks)