Construction Looking Forward, 2008-2016 Key Highlights
National Summary
Canada’s construction industry remains resilient under a cloud of economic uncertainty. Construction has been a leading national industry in growth of output and employment over the past ten years, and major infrastructure, industrial and engineering projects underway and announced will keep employment levels strong over the near term.• Construction is usually a volatile industry, but since reaching its low point in 1995, construction activity has been increasing year after year.
• Employment in the Canadian construction industry increased by almost 40% from 2001 to 2007. In most provinces, the boom in activity took place in residential building construction until 2004 or 2005. Since 2006 and 2007, growth in construction activity has shifted to the infrastructure, industrial and engineering sectors and associated trades and occupations.
• By 2007, construction labour requirements in Canada had grown to a record high level. More advances in construction employment are expected to take place under current and planned activity over the 2008-2011 period.
• The pacesetters are British Columbia and Alberta, where new institutional and engineering projects have increased employment significantly.
• The most dramatic increases under the current scenario are found in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Saskatchewan where big resource-based projects will push the limits of the available skilled workforce.
• Ontario and Québec are projected to follow a more moderate construction growth path over the forecast period. Many institutional, transportation and energy projects are currently in the planning stages.
The high level of employment and continuing growth in demand has focused the industry’s attention on finding new workers at every level. Attracting unskilled new entrants – often in competition with other industries – into training programs is a major activity. The immediate and urgent need is for qualified and experienced workers. As projects continue to be announced, the recruiting process reaches into more-distant markets.
The 2008 edition of Construction Looking Forward has identified the need to train more than 250,000 workers by 2016 in order to replace a retiring workforce and to meet new demand for construction services. This is in addition to an estimated 42,000 new jobs that were created to meet increased construction activity in 2007.
Key trades in high demand across the country include the following:
• Boilermakers
• Construction managers and supervisors
• Construction millwrights
• Crane operators
• Heavy equipment operators
• Insulators
• Ironworkers
• Pipefitters
• Welders
Construction Looking Forward, 2008-2016 Key Highlights
National Summary (pdf)
British Columbia (pdf)
Alberta (pdf)
Saskatchewan (pdf)
Manitoba (pdf)
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