Hard-hat workers in high demand

February 9, 2018

Canadian construction workers should have no problem finding work over the next few years, according to BuildForce Canada, which forecasts that more than 200,000 workers will be needed by 2028.
The construction workforce is estimated to rise by approximately 22,000 workers by the end of the decade, as gains in non-residential job growth outpace small declines in residential construction. Public infrastructure modernization and growing demand for residential renovation and heavy industrial maintenance activity should help sustain industry employment over the next 10 years, the group said.
Adding to the pressure is the fact that about 21 per cent of current construction workers are forecast to retire in the next decade, said Bill Ferreira, executive director of BuildForce Canada.
“Simply put, the industry must remain focused on recruitment, training, and mentoring efforts to prevent a potential skills and capacity gap over the next 10 years,” he said.
“As many as 277,000 new construction workers will be needed this decade,” added Ferreira. “With increasing competition for a shrinking pool of young people, it will be necessary to step up recruitment efforts to attract greater numbers of new Canadians, women, and Indigenous people to Canada’s construction workforce.”