Kingston – After a decade of steady growth and employment for many trades at or near record levels in 2007, Ontario’s construction industry is expected to maintain manageable growth that will require the hiring of nearly 74,000 workers over the next eight years, the Construction Sector Council (CSC) says in its fourth annual edition of “Construction Looking Forward,” a detailed forecast of labour market trends from 2008 to 2016 in Ontario.
“While there is some risk of an economic slowdown affecting Ontario, the level of growth for construction over the next 8 years remains very positive,” said Ron Martin, Executive Director of the Sudbury Construction Association. “Major projects underway and proposed will add significant construction related employment in the province.”
Under the current outlook, between 2008 and 2016, as many as 17,600 new workers are required to keep pace with new projects, while another 56,300 workers are needed to replace retiring baby boomers.
“And this doesn’t include several major projects that are under review,” noted Ron McGillis, Manager Safety Compliance and Contractor Quality of Ontario Power Generation. “Recent announcements of a nuclear reactor facility, the potential for a new oil refinery in southern Ontario, and increased infrastructure investment will generate added employment opportunities for Ontario workers.”
“For Ontario’s construction industry, it will remain important to promote careers, attract youth and enhance training programs,” said Patrick Dillon, Business Manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “This support is needed both to deepen the ranks of skilled workers for new construction and to replace retiring workers.”
“Addressing the increasing need for more skilled construction workers in Ontario is crucial and we must make recruitment and training a priority,” says Richard Lyall, President of RESCON.
As one of the largest industries in Canada, construction employs more than a million Canadians. National employment across the entire construction industry has risen by a record 39% over the past five years.
The Construction Sector Council is a national organization committed to developing a highly skilled workforce – one that will support the future needs of the construction industry in Canada. Created in April of 2001, and financed by both government and industry, the CSC is a partnership between labour and business.
The CSC’s “Construction Looking Forward” national and regional forecasts provide colleges, labour and industry with accurate information on labour supply and demand to support the future needs of the construction industry in Canada.
For a copy of the Ontario labour market forecast visit our website: www.csc-ca.org.
For further information contact:
Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
(905) 852-9186