Construction industry welcomes long-awaited tool to project labour requirements | BuildForce Canada

Construction industry welcomes long-awaited tool to project labour requirements


OTTAWA – A first-of-its-kind forecasting model released today by the Construction Sector Council (CSC) indicates a growing need for a mobile workforce able to move between provinces, industries and sectors to keep pace with the increased demand for skilled trades.

The model creates an assessment of demand for 38 trades and occupations in every province, from 2005 to 2013.

“This industry has long needed a sophisticated economic forecasting tool like this to help us with the why, where and when of on-time, on-budget project planning,” says Tim Flood, CSC business co-chair and president of John Flood and Sons Ltd. “These projections are an excellent starting point for analysis that can be refined with updated information -- a new sharp tool for the risk management tool box.”

Working with the CSC and senior economists, the model was developed with input from owners, contractors, labour groups and government representatives from all provinces, and from all sectors of the industry who have brought unique and relevant information to the table. The result is a national summary and 10 provincial “Construction Looking Forward” reports for use by industry stakeholders.

“These forecasts will go a long way to ensure the continued growth of a major, multi-billion dollar industry that is a barometer for Canada’s economy,” says Bob Blakely CSC labour co-chair and director of Canadian Affairs for the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

“They will help guide human resource planning and policy, training curriculums, career planning, and more,” he adds.

“Bringing together such a large network of stakeholders with key information like major projects, workers’ age demographics, and available training is a groundbreaking initiative for the construction industry. This type of detailed forecasting would not have been possible without the significant contribution of more than 100 different construction industry partners.”

The national summary forecast was released today. It can be viewed at www.csc-ca.org. Next week, detailed projections will be delivered by the special Labour Market Information Committees set up in each province by the CSC. Annual releases are planned.

Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.

The CSC is a not–for–profit, independent labour/business partnership organization established in 2001, to address the current and future human resource needs of the construction industry in Canada.

For more information on these and other CSC programs:
Michelle Walsh
Manager, Communications
Construction Sector Council
walsh@csc-ca.org
Tel: (613) 569-5552, ext. 230
Fax: (613) 569-1220