Need honest advice before moving my family to Canada for an elevator apprenticeship
Hi everyone,
I'm from South Korea, and I'm trying to make one of the biggest decisions of my life.
I'm 37 years old and have 13 years of experience in the elevator industry. My background is mainly B2B sales, project management, specifications, and working with major construction companies and government housing projects. Although I'm not currently a mechanic, I've worked in the elevator industry for a long time and also hold the Korean Elevator Engineer certification.
My plan is:
Study the 2-year Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices program at Mohawk College (possibly Durham College as another option).
Graduate and get hired as an Elevating Devices Mechanic Apprentice.
Work under a PGWP and hopefully obtain Canadian permanent residence.
However, I recently learned that NOC 72406 (Elevator Constructors and Mechanics) is no longer included in the Express Entry Trades category, which has made me seriously question my entire plan.
I would really appreciate honest answers from people who actually work in the industry.
How difficult is it for a Mohawk (or Durham) graduate to get hired as an elevator apprentice in Ontario?
Are international students actually getting apprentice jobs, or do most companies prefer Canadians?
Does my 13 years of elevator industry experience from South Korea provide any real advantage when applying?
If I perform well in school and actively network, is finding an apprenticeship realistic?
Since Elevator Mechanics are no longer in the Express Entry Trades category, has obtaining permanent residence become significantly more difficult?
If this were your situation, would you still choose this career path for immigration in 2026?
I'm not looking for false hope. My wife and young son would be moving with me, and I would be leaving a stable career in South Korea.
I'd really appreciate honest opinions from people who know the industry.
Thank you.