Canada Welcomes Foreign Welders Under New ELMO Pilot Project
A new Expedited Labor Market Opinion (ELMO) pilot project makes it easier for welders to enter Canada as temporary workers. In Canada, welders fuse both ferrous and non-ferrous metals together using specialized welding equipment. A variety of companies are currently seeking welders in Canada. They include companies that manufacture aircraft, ships, heavy-duty machinery, plate steel, structural steel and other metal products.
Welder Duties
According to ELMO, welders in Canada typically are called upon to:
- Read and interpret blueprints and other technical documents
- Fuse ferrous and non-ferrous metal together using a variety of welding processes, such as arc welding, plasma arc welding, gas metal arc welding, oxy-acetylene welding, and underwater arc welding
- Operate soldering, brazing and flame-cutting equipment
- Operate brakes, shears and other types of metal shaping and cutting machines
- Repair or reinforce worn or broken metal implements or structures by welding on extra layers
Welder Qualifications
ELMO specifies that welders who want to work in Canada must have:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Certification from a 3-year apprenticeship program OR over 3 years of supervised work experience in the welding trade as well as related secondary school, industry or college courses.
Trade certification is voluntary in British Columbia, but it is required in Alberta. Inter-provincial certification is also available.
Welder Wages
According to ELMO, wages for welders vary significantly by region. Welders in Edmonton can earn as much as $28.70/hour while welders in the Thompson/Okanagan/Kootenay region of British Columbia earn only $22.03/hour.
If you would like to learn more about the ELMO pilot project and/or working as a welder in Canada, we encourage you to visit the official ELMO web site.
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