As the economy changes in your Canadian town and other locations while the cost of living goes up, you realize your current career may not be serving you as well as another one might. As a result, you’ve been seeking a new career but you aren’t sure what you want to do for a living. Do you want to work in a field where you get to vary the tasks you do, working with the general public and bettering the lives of others? Have you considered working in an industry that has ample career growth opportunities and is a high-demand field? How does the industry vary from Michigan to Canada?
A career as a journeyman electrician may work well for you and can be an exciting way to gain skills in a field that grows in demand without showing signs of slowing down. Electrical issues pop up in both residential and commercial arenas, and if you have the skills as a journeyman electrician to help with electrical installations and repair needs, you can grow in your trade and have confidence knowing your skills are valuable no matter where you live. If a career as a journeyman electrician sounds good to you, here are some things to consider for both Michigan and Canadian construction markets.
Get Into A Great Career In A Short Amount Of Time
Training varies from Canada to other nearby areas, but you can still become a journeyman electrician in a short amount of time compared to other fields. To become a journeyman electrician in Michigan, for example, you’d have to enroll in a trade school that teaches you about electrician knowledge in an apprenticeship fashion. You then become a paid apprentice on your way to getting your journeyman electrician license, which means you can be paid to get educated and trained (which is not available in some other fields you may be considering).
You then have to pass an exam that certifies that you have the knowledge, training, and skills to work on installing and altering electrical setups in various client settings. A Michigan journeyman electrician test can be taken after a set amount of study hours and applied practice, depending on where you study and what specialties you want to get into regarding your area of interest. Compare these tests to the type you have to take in Canada to help you determine what requirements you have to meet so you can best prepare so you can start working in competitive construction markets. You can take special courses to help you prep for your test so you have a better chance of passing the first time. You’ll find that getting educated in electrical work can take less time than other types of similar fields.
Pick A Specialty To Work In
Being a journeyman electrician doesn’t limit the type of electrical installation and remodeling work you can do. You can pick specialties that help you become even more hirable and in demand.
All you have to do is take the appropriate tests in your area and you can start applying these skills to your resume. For example, you may also be interested in sign installation or fire alarm installation in addition to your general journeyman electrician certification. Compare the construction demands in both Michigan and Canada to help you determine which skills you should focus heavily on.
Choose Work In A Growing Field
Becoming a journeyman electrician can help you advance in a growing field, no matter where you live. With a projected job growth rate of 6% through 2032 (higher than the expected growth rate of some other trades) and an average income of nearly $30 an hour USD in 2023 alone, it’s a field you can feel good about getting into. It’s also competitive in an economy that is ever-growing as well.
It’s wise to consider the average rate of journeyman electrician pay for your Canadian location compared to other trades in the area so you know how to maximize your skills and interests most. Keep in mind that to make yourself even more hirable, you can take additional training in other electric fields so you can work on both a commercial and residential level, depending on construction trends in either country.
Varying The Work You Do
Think about the type of electrical work you want to do. If you want to work primarily on installations, you can contract with a construction company or work independently (provided you have all the correct training) and work on just residential and commercial installations.
If you wish to specialize in the work you do and just work on commercial sign installation or work in certain industries (such as hospitality or medical), you’re free to do this with the right training. Specializing in certain areas helps vary the work you do while making you stand out among other electricians in your field for hire. Both Michigan and Canadian construction markets have ample room for varying electrical work projects.
Helping People Every Day
Becoming a journeyman electrician gives you a sense of purpose every day. You get to help people when they are doing a home remodeling project or when they’re adding onto their properties. For example, bathroom lighting trends in Canadian homes can keep you busy helping people regularly with their electrical upgrade needs. You can be part of the initial building of a new structure and offer your expertise in electrical wiring and installation for people across several industries. You keep buildings safe and up to code regarding electrical work, which is very rewarding in and of itself. Whether you work in residential homes or commercial buildings, your work can be appreciated every time a customer hits a light switch.
Making The Career Switch
If you’re ready to get started on your new career, then look into courses you can take to help you be a journeyman electrician in your area, whether you live in Canada or the US. Before you know it, you can be well on your way to your new career.
