Canada Needs 250,000 New Workers by 2021

Canada will need to recruit more than 250,000 construction workers between now and 2021 if it is to meet building requirements over that time, a new report says.

In its Construction Looking Forward, National Summary 2013-21 report, the Construction Sector Council says the combination of the expansion of resource projects and the need to replace retiring personnel is driving a long term need for new blood and for effective planning strategies to meet labour market needs.

“We must be able to supply the needed skills when and where required,” said Rosemary Sparks, the council’s executive director. “This includes having access to a mobile workforce at times. It also means working to retain experienced workers and training the next generation. These challenges will continue to focus attention on training, labour mobility and immigration.”

The report says new jobs will be added on top of already all-time high record employment across the nine year scenario period in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island  - albeit with the latter two provinces expanding at a slower pace.

Employment in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, where resource projects have been ramping up, will reach a peak over the next two years but will settle at levels well above pre-2009 industry norms.

Meanwhile, limited growth is expected in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

In terms of sectors, the report says most provinces expect steady growth in institutional and commercial building whilst big electricity, mining and oil and gas projects will mean greater volatility (but generally high activity) in the industrial and utility sectors.

In home building, however, limited expectations regarding population growth across the forecast period is expected to flow through into moderate to low growth in activity and largely unchanged employment levels.

In addition to its national report, the Council has released regional level reports providing detailed labour forecasting information for each province.

By Andrew Heaton