US & Canada

[chavez]

How many of you from the US look for jobs in Canada? I see some of the wages in the US for lineman in the high 20$ range and we are around the high 30$ range. With the dollar being close to par value is that more of a reason to look to Canada? I know for Canadians the strong US dollar years ago was a reason to move South but now that is changing.



Cheers

[Trampbag]

Crossing boarders to work has its benefits and detractors and certainly the fluctuation of currencies is one. A double edged sword, so to speak.

10 years ago there wasn’t a lot of work in Canada and the attraction for Canadians seeking the abundant work in the USA increased when the much higher US dollar was compared to the Canuk buck, at times $1US would get $1.50CDN. Right now the dollars are approaching par value.

Now that Canada has a lot of work, particularly Western Canada, and the wages are well above $30 per hour, Canada is attractive. Considering the benefits above wages Canadian employers include in the work package, like full room and board for some jobs, and the much less expensive medical, and the fact that Cdn contractors pay both statutory and annual vacation pay which most of the US contractors don’t, working in Canada can be attractive.

In the early ‘70’s the Canuk buck was $1.10CND compared to $1US and there was a lot of overtime (2x) work the linemen from the USA flocked to Canada and did very well, some never went back south of the boarder.