Trades workers are responsible for building our city, but western culture often undervalues the work and leaves crucial jobs unfilled. /Postmedia NetworkPhoto by Gavin Young

Opinion: The blue-collar conundrum — How western Canadian culture leaves trades jobs unfilled

by · Calgary Herald

In a city known for its energy and work ethic, it’s puzzling to see high unemployment alongside unfilled blue-collar positions. Calgary’s unemployment rate — at 7.5 per cent — is the second-highest in the country, yet many trades and labour positions remain vacant, especially in the construction industry. The disconnect between the demand for workers and the supply of willing hands raises the question: what’s going on here?