Skilled Trade Jobs Abroad in 2026: Welding, Electrical, Trucking

If you weld, wire buildings, fit pipes or drive heavy trucks, you've probably seen adverts claiming the world is desperate for your skills. Parts of that are true. But the route from "in demand" to a visa runs through skills assessments, licences and official lists that change every year.

This guide shows which trades are on official shortage lists at the time of writing (September 2026), what they pay according to government data, and what it takes to get your credentials recognised.

Why skilled trades are in demand

Many countries are short of tradespeople because experienced workers are retiring and fewer young people are training. Housing targets, energy projects and infrastructure spending add pressure.

Official data backs this up in several places:

• Germany's Federal Employment Agency found 157 shortage occupations in its 2025 analysis, including construction and skilled trades and professional truck drivers.
• Canada runs a dedicated trade occupations category in Express Entry.
• Australia lists electricians, plumbers, welders and carpenters on its Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
• The UK includes electricians, plumbers and welders on its Temporary Shortage List, a list of medium-skilled jobs still open to the Skilled Worker visa.

Which trades appear on official lists?

In New Zealand, Tier 2 means the Work to Residence pathway: you can apply for residence after working in the role for 24 months, if you meet the pay and other rules. Welders and fitters must be paid at least 1.3 times the median wage over that period.

What trades pay: official figures

Pay depends heavily on region, overtime, union agreements and your licence level. These figures come from government sources and are medians or ranges, not promises.

United States (BLS, 2025 median annual pay)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects about 214,500 openings a year for heavy truck drivers and 72,700 for electricians over the decade, including jobs opened up when workers retire or move on.

Canada (Job Bank, national hourly wages)

Job Bank's figures were updated in November 2025 from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey (2023 to 2024). Wages are often higher in Alberta and British Columbia. Job Bank lists welders in Alberta at a median of CAD $38.00 an hour, for example.

For the UK, Skilled Worker salary rules set a floor rather than showing typical pay. GOV.UK lists standard going rates of £38,800 for electricians, £38,100 for plumbers and £34,900 for welders on the Temporary Shortage List.

Visa routes country by country

Canada

Express Entry is Canada's online system for skilled worker permanent residence. Its trade occupations category lets the government invite people with at least 12 months of full-time experience in a listed trade within the last 3 years.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is one of the Express Entry programmes. It asks for:

• at least 2 years of full-time work in an eligible skilled trade within the last 5 years
• minimum scores in an approved English or French test
• either a valid job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority

There's no formal education requirement. For a comparison with farm work routes, see our guide to Canada farming jobs.

Australia

Trades on the CSOL can be sponsored through the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Many, including electricians, plumbers, welders and carpenters, are also on the list for points-tested visas.

The assessing authority for most trades is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). Our Australia skilled migration guide explains points and state nomination.

New Zealand

Electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, drainlayers, welders, fitters and diesel mechanics are on Tier 2 of the Green List. Electricians need NZ registration or a limited certificate from the Electrical Workers Registration Board. Plumbers need registration with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. Read more in our New Zealand Green List guide.

Germany

Germany's shortage analysis names construction and skilled trades and truck drivers among its bottleneck areas. The usual route is a skilled worker visa based on a vocational qualification recognised in Germany.

Germany also has a route for people with substantial professional experience and a state-recognised qualification from their home country, without full German recognition, in non-regulated jobs. A minimum salary applies. Check the current threshold with the German mission in your country. Our Germany salary and cost of living guide helps you judge whether an offer is enough.

United States

Trades have fewer direct routes. The two main ones are:

• H-2B, a temporary visa for seasonal or peak-load non-farm work. Congress caps it at 66,000 a year, split between the two halves of the fiscal year, and the cap is often reached quickly.
• EB-3 skilled worker, a green card for jobs needing at least 2 years of training or experience. The employer usually has to complete labour certification first, and waits can be long.

United Kingdom

Electricians, plumbers and welders can still use the Skilled Worker visa through the Temporary Shortage List. The government has said jobs on the list are due to come off by the end of 2026 unless the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommends they stay. In July 2026 the MAC recommended 18-month access for these trades, but check GOV.UK for the final decision.

Most people sponsored in these medium-skilled jobs can't bring dependants unless they were already working in such a job before 22 July 2025.

A closer look at truck driving

Trucking is the trade where adverts and official lists disagree most. Drivers are clearly needed: Germany's shortage analysis names professional truck drivers, and BLS expects more than 200,000 US openings a year for heavy truck drivers.

But at the time of writing, truck drivers aren't on Canada's Express Entry categories, Australia's skilled occupation lists, New Zealand's Green List or the UK's Temporary Shortage List. That means most routes depend on a specific employer, a regional or provincial programme, or a temporary work permit.

Your home licence is rarely enough. Expect to take local theory and road tests, and in some places complete mandatory training before you can drive heavy vehicles commercially. In the US, the 2026 FMCSA rule described above limits who can hold a non-domiciled licence.

If someone offers a "guaranteed" trucking visa for a fee, treat it as a scam until an official source proves otherwise.

Licensing and credential recognition

This is where many moves stall. Plan for it from day one.

Canada. Trades are regulated by provinces and territories. The Red Seal Program sets common interprovincial standards, and most provinces use the Red Seal exam as the final certification exam in Red Seal trades. Some trades are "compulsory", meaning you need a certificate to work in them. In Ontario, for example, electricians and plumbers must hold a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate or a registered training agreement. Contact the trades authority in your province to find out how to challenge the exam.

Australia. TRA runs the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) for some nationalities and occupations. For licensed trades such as electricians, a successful assessment leads to an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR). You then apply to the state or territory licensing body for a provisional or restricted licence.

New Zealand. Registration with the relevant board is part of the Green List requirement itself. Your overseas qualification may also need an assessment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Germany. You apply to the competent authority for recognition of your vocational qualification. The official portal says the process normally takes three to four months, and costs vary, often several hundred euros plus translations.

United States. Licensing is state by state. BLS says most states require electricians to pass an exam based on the National Electrical Code, and most states require plumbers to have 2 to 5 years of experience and pass an exam. Truck drivers need a commercial driver's licence (CDL).

United Kingdom. Employers usually want evidence that you can work to UK standards. You can check how your qualification compares through UK ENIC, the national agency for recognising international qualifications.

Costs and money to plan for

Moving as a tradesperson has real upfront costs. Budget for:

• Skills assessments and licence fees. These vary by country, trade and assessment centre. Get the current fee from the official body before you book.
• English or French tests. Required for most routes.
• Tools and safety gear. Some employers supply them, many don't.
• Visa and health costs. Check whether you need private health insurance until public cover starts.
• A bank account and tax number. Open these in your first weeks so your wages are paid correctly.
• Sending money home. Compare licensed transfer providers on the total cost, including the exchange rate.
• Union dues and licence renewals. These are ongoing costs in many countries.

Step-by-step: from tradesperson to visa

1. Confirm your trade's official title and code (NOC in Canada, ANZSCO in Australia and New Zealand, SOC in the UK).
2. Check the current official list for each country you're considering.
3. Collect evidence of your training and experience: certificates, pay slips, employer references with duties and dates.
4. Start your skills assessment or recognition with the correct body.
5. Take the required language test.
6. Look for employers through official job boards such as Job Bank or state government portals.
7. Apply for your licence or provisional licence once you're eligible.
8. Apply for the visa that matches your situation.

Your checklist and next steps

• Pick one or two countries where your trade is on a current official list.
• Read the licensing rules for your trade in the exact province or state you're targeting.
• Price every assessment, test and licence from the official source.
• Save money for at least three months of living costs.
• Never pay anyone for a job or a visa.

If the US is your target, read our overview of US visa sponsorship options before you speak to any employer.