While Alberta’s economy slowly recovers, academic advisors at NAIT have noticed a growing demand for skilled craftsmen in job positions that have otherwise been dubbed old-fashioned in our tech-driven society.
Academic advisors say that a shift in consumerism from mass-produced goods and services to locally sourced products has created a resurgence of jobs that require more of a personalized touch.
Examples of these include:
- Carpentry
- Baking
- Woodworking
- Butchery
- Barbery
The demand for these services and goods are being met with a high number of applicants to programs within NAIT who are looking to pursue careers in these areas.
When we look at programs like baking, which we spoke of, it is now a two year program at NAIT. It’s Baking and Pastry Chef, and we only take 24 students and the applicant numbers have been extremely high and I think that reflects sort of a growing interest in having homemade baked good that are available. – Don Stewart, NAIT Academic Advisor.
Over the past four years, graduates of NAIT’s Baking and Pastry Arts Program have had an 86% employment rate.
While the learning experience in a program such as this requires an artistic hand and strong attention to detail, first year Baking student, Taryn Oseen, explains that there is a lot more that goes into it.
“It’s neat what you can do. It’s all science, that’s what I find interesting about it. It can just be throw everything in the pot and mix it up but there’s so many little things that make it cool,” says Oseen.
In addition to the Baking and Pastry Arts Program, NAIT currently offers a Professional Meat Cutting and Merchandising Program as well as a Millwork and Carpentry Program.
