The trade
What a sheet metal worker does.
Sheet metal workers lay out, fabricate, and install every kind of sheet metal work on construction sites, including ventilation, air conditioning, and heating systems, as well as metal cladding and roofing. They cut, form, and assemble sheet metal following technical drawings.
CCQ rate
$45.36 – $48.82 / hour (journeyperson, depending on sector)
Sheet metal worker rates are set by CCQ collective agreements and vary by sector (residential, institutional-commercial, industrial, civil engineering). Check the official current grid on the CCQ wage rate tool: ccq.org/salaire.
Why it's tight
The pool is thin. Speed makes the difference.
Per CCQ 2024 data, the average age of active sheet metal workers is 39.4, and 14% are 55 or older, pointing to significant retirements ahead. The CCQ has identified that low availability, an aging workforce, and too few new graduates are creating worker shortages in this trade despite stable demand. Industry-wide, the CCQ projects recruitment needs of 16,000 people per year for 2025-2029, driven by aging, high turnover, and a growing volume of major projects. In 2024, there were 5,622 active sheet metal workers against 1,060 recruiting companies.
That's exactly where Aplomb wins: Audrey activates candidates in under 2 minutes, 24/7. While others call back the next day, your sheet metal worker is already talking to us.
What we check
Before it lands on your desk.
- Valid CCQ competency certificate (CCA or CCC)
- Current ASP Construction health and safety card (mandatory on job sites)
- Skilled at reading plans and technical specs for sheet metal, ventilation, and air conditioning work
- Practical experience fabricating and installing HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and metal cladding
- Independence, precision, and manual dexterity — employers value comfort working at height and holding tight tolerances in sheet metal work
Competency card
How a sheet metal worker qualifies.
To work legally in Quebec's construction industry, a sheet metal worker needs a CCQ competency certificate. The apprentice competency certificate (CCA) is earned by passing the DEP in Sheet Metal Work (5360, 1,605 hours) and securing a job guarantee of at least 150 hours over 3 consecutive months with a CCQ-registered employer. The apprentice must complete 6,000 hours of work across 3 periods of 2,000 hours each before sitting the provincial qualification exam (60 questions, 3 hours, 60% pass threshold). Passing it leads to the journeyperson competency certificate (CCC). The apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio is 1:1 in residential, and 1 apprentice per 2 journeypersons in institutional-commercial, industrial, and civil engineering.
Frequently asked questions
Hiring a sheet metal worker, plainly.
How do I know if I can hire an apprentice sheet metal worker on my site?
It depends on your sector. In residential, the ratio is 1 apprentice per journeyperson. In institutional-commercial, industrial, and civil engineering, you need 2 journeypersons to bring on 1 apprentice — and at least 1 journeyperson must be on site at all times. Make sure the apprentice holds a valid CCA before bringing them on.
Can a sheet metal worker from another province work in Quebec?
Not directly. To work on sites governed by the R-20 Act in Quebec, a worker needs a CCQ competency certificate. A worker from another province can apply to the CCQ for recognition of their training and experience to get their card, but they need to apply before starting work. The CCQ has a recognition-of-prior-learning process for this.
Where do I find the wage rates to pay my sheet metal workers?
Rates are set by CCQ collective agreements and vary by sector where your work takes place. Check current rates directly on the wage rate tool at ccq.org/salaire — select your sector and date to get the exact rate to apply. When in doubt, refer to your collective agreement or employer association.
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Also by region
sheet metal workers in your area.
We recruit across Québec. See the candidate job pages by region for this trade.