I have a lot of friends in NS and used to work in Halifax for BlackBerry. I never really considered moving back as it seemed NS had the same lack of work for tradespeople as Newfoundland, but I would love to work closer to family without having to move too far west. Connections are important but sadly I don't have any to start in a job I'd like. Which industries are in need of technicians?
I have never been unemployed in N.S. !!!!
You need to apply to any job ads related to maintenance. Sometimes the folks making the ads don't even know what they need, so getting in the door just to chat to some of the maintenance mangers could be a winning ticket. I started as a lube mechanic in a Pie Factory for about 2 weeks, then they had PLC troubles. Luckily I had a whole apprenticeship under my belt doing PLC work. I quickly fixed their problems a few times, then I got a day job and an office, then some more training. Just like that. many years later..... I'm still programming every day. So, I'm just saying, getting in to a maintenance dept, in a place known to have equipment will eventually get you working with the right crowd. You will excel as a tech on a plant floor and it will get noticed. Trust me, usually we notice folks for the wrong reasons, good ones are hard to find but usually stick out like a soar thumb.
-Shipyard: Usually hiring, frequent layoffs, good money, grunt work.
-Food Production: Potato Chips, Apple Production, Sour Cream, Milk, Frozen Foods, Ice Cream, Chicken, Always hiring, decent money, no layoffs. (We are ALWAYS looking for decent folks in the pie business, we have 2 plants in Kentville)
-Agriculture:Farms, Marijuana and greenhouses galore in the valley. There are tons of machine places around that use electronics. Excavators, Dozers, tons of Forestry Equipment here! I installed a PLC in a log harvester of my own!
Tire Production:Three plants in N.S. and always hiring. Good Money, good benefits, institution style work place, guaranteed retirement.
Food Container Production and Packaging Machinery: There are two plants here running ads for techs involved in these games. I don't know how they are to work for though.
Drug Production: There is a drug company who here I will not name that is ALWAYS looking. New start up and cant find techs anywhere. They have a plant here and one in PEI. Good Pay. Good Guys to work for.
Pulp and Paper: Large L>P> Plant here I did 6 years at. Great place to work. Good money, always hiring. Benefits and retirement plan.
Integrator: In Halifax there are MANY integrator groups that do all kinds of things. They are ALWAYS hiring. Just had one ask me if I'm interested in a job yesterday.
Saw Mills: There are lots of mills here. Not as great pay but decent places to work. Lots of maintenance to do and troubleshooting work. This industry is in peril though unless Northern Pulp comes back on line again.
Just to name a few off the top of my head. Most of industries have ads continuously running on the job banks. Not to mention the local electrical contractors that could desperately use any control experience on their side. They are ALWAYS hiring. There is the electrical union in N.S. that seems busy and again always hiring somewhere. Even the local school board had a spiffy looking ad out for someone I assume wants a more slow pace, changing light bulbs kind of job. It certainly helps to know folks in the industries but if a person is willing to travel around the province a bit there is work, there are job ads out there. I know with your qualifications you could start at said "Drug Company" tomorrow. I know the maintenance manger. WINK WINK!.