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November 15, 2006 – New Employment Program Helps Immigrants Fill Construction Industry Needs
June 27, 2006 – New nine-year forecast helps construction industry,government address labour needs
June 26, 2006 – Manitoba’s construction industry to focus on training and recruitment, as “exceptional expansion” forecast
June 20, 2006 – New forecast says Ontario construction industry poised to meet regional demands
May 18, 2006 – New Alberta construction forecast says training key to future growth
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New Employment Program Helps Immigrants Fill Construction Industry Needs |
November 15, 2006
PRINCE GEORGE – A new Immigrant Skilled Trades Employment Program (ISTEP) launched today promises to help landed immigrants build careers in British Columbia’s construction industry while helping employers to fill gaps in their workforce. ISTEP also has the potential to be a model for addressing skills shortages across the country.
ISTEP is a joint initiative of the British Columbia Construction Association and the Construction Sector Council (CSC) of Canada with funding support from the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program.
ISTEP will work with new immigrants who have an interest in the construction trades.
Job coaches located in four regions of the province will directly connect immigrants with employers. They will assess employment potential, coordinate work placements that match skills and experience, and provide ongoing support for both workers and employers. The Job Coaches will be a constant link, helping employers get the job-ready workers they need and advising immigrants on training and career paths.
“The project addresses two major issues for the construction industry,” says George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the CSC.
“It recognizes foreign-worker credentials and provides a long-term solution to the skilled trade shortage facing some employers,” continues Gritziotis, adding that “it also provides a working model for the construction industry across Canada and for other industries as well.”
Manley McLachlan, President of the B.C. Construction Association, sees this as a “win-win situation that will open doors for immigrants and help employers with labour shortages. We have links to hundreds of employers and thousands of jobs across the province,” he says.
“Contractors are recruiting from other countries to try to fill their needs,” he says, “while here in BC, immigrants – a significant provincial resource – face barriers to training and employment.”
Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the BC Building Trades is pleased that the project ensures that immigrants will be paid according to their skills and at industry standards. “We’ve worked hard to set a decent wage and living standard for construction workers in this province,” he says. “This is about connecting immigrant workers with well paying jobs in an industry that is booming.”
Peppard added, “new immigrant workers often bring with them valuable skills that are lost to the workforce. ISTEP will put those skills to work and help immigrants build rewarding careers while helping to alleviate skills shortages.”
For further information:
Paul Mitchell, Project Manager
ISTEP
(250) 475-1077
Rosemary Sparks,
Director of Operations
Construction Sector Council
(613) 569-5552
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New nine-year forecast helps construction industry, government address labour needs
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June 27, 2006
REGINA, SK. – A made-in Saskatchewan boom in engineering and industrial projects will spark a high demand for many skilled trades over the next few years, according to a new provincial forecast of labour requirements in the construction industry from 2006 to 2014.
The report by the Construction Sector Council (CSC) and its partners says employers can expect recruiting challenges until 2009 for carpenters, heavy equipment operators, plumbers, roofers and shinglers, steamfitters, pipefitters, sprinkler system installers, and welders.
“Like other provinces, Saskatchewan is experiencing skilled labour shortages, so it is useful to be able to predict labour needs down to the trade,” says Michael Fougere, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Association. “We expect to see labour shortages into the future and this report will help industry and government address our labour market needs.”
Doug Muir, Director of Apprenticeship at the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, says retirements will present a significant challenge over the forecast period as well, particularly with respect to training. “Knowing the when and where of labour requirements allows us to adjust the training plan accordingly,” he says.
The forecast says that from 2006 to 2014, the province will have to replace more than 3,600 retiring workers, in addition to those who will be needed for new projects.
Ken McKinlay, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Home Builders’ Association says that any anticipated slowdown in residential will be mild, the housing and renovation sectors will need to maintain its current labour force to at least 2010. A slowing in the residential sector would see workers still engaged in light commercial activities.
The CSC produced the forecast with input from all sectors of the construction industry and government. This is the second yearly edition of Construction Looking Forward. Reports are currently being released for each province, and the new reality of the threat to economic growth, posed by fewer workers and more work, is a common theme throughout.
“In this new reality of more work and fewer workers, proper training, health and safety on the job and recruiting youth to the trades are all priorities,” says Terry Parker, Business Manager, Saskatchewan Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council.
The Construction Sector Council was established in 2001 as an independent labour/business partnership to address the workforce needs of the construction industry. The CSC is a neutral forum that brings together stakeholders to provide data that industry can use to make critical decisions. CSC provides this data to industry who undertake their own analysis. Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program. The report is available on the CSC website at www.csc-ca.org.
MORE INFORMATION:
Michael Fougere
President
Saskatchewan Construction Association
(306) 525-0171
michaelf@scaonline.ca
Ken McKinlay
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Home Builders’ Association
(306) 569-2424
kmckinlay@shba.ca
Rosemary Sparks
Director of Projects
Construction Sector Council,
(905) 852-9186
sparks@csc.ca.org
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Manitoba’s construction industry to focus on training and recruitment, as “exceptional expansion” forecast |
June 26, 2006
WINNIPEG – The boom in all sectors of Manitoba’s construction industry is expected to last for several more years, according to a new forecast released today by the Construction Sector Council (CSC) and its partners.
According to Construction Looking Forward – Labour Requirements from 2006 to 2014 for Manitoba, the construction industry will continue to create jobs and boost the province’s economy right up until 2014, though looming retirements will present a challenge when it comes to replacing some skilled trades.
“By providing details about what trades will be needed where and when, the forecast is just the tool we need to meet that challenge,” says David Martin, Executive Director, Manitoba Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council,
The report notes that more than 18% of the province’s construction workforce, or 4,000 workers, will be needed to replace retirees. Another 2,500 workers will be needed to meet new demand over the forecast period.
“Recruitment and training will be a key priority, especially for certain trades in industrial and engineering building that are in high demand across the country in the short term,” adds Mr. Martin.
The CSC has been working with all sectors of the construction industry over the past year to develop Construction Looking Forward reports for each province. They are being released across the country this month.
Manitoba differs from other provinces in that building continues in all sectors throughout the forecast period, whereas most provinces see a downturn in some sectors after 2009.
“The Manitoba economy is in good shape and a major source of growth is construction investment,” adds Peter Wightman, Executive Director, Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba. “By working together and with the help of this forecast we can keep it that way.” Quoting from the report, he points out that “from 2006 to 2009, there is exceptional expansion, with no equivalent in other provinces.”
“We are pleased to learn that the industry is committed to recruiting drives that target youth and new workforce entrants. I applaud the Construction Sector Council and its partners in working together to provide a comprehensive report that not only offers foresight but is focused on recruitment and training in Manitoba,” said Barry Rempel, President and CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc.
The Construction Sector Council was established in 2001, as an independent labour/business partnership to address the workforce needs of the construction industry. The CSC is a neutral forum that brings together stakeholders to provide data that industry can use to make critical planning decisions. CSC provides this data to industry who undertake their own analysis.
Construction Looking Forward reports are produced annually by the CSC for all provinces. They are available electronically at www.csc-ca.org.
Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.
MORE INFORMATION:
David Martin
Executive Director
Manitoba Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council
(204) 956-7425
david@mbctc.mb.ca
Peter Wightman
Executive Director
Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba
(204) 775-0441
clram@mb.sympatico.ca
Rosemary Sparks
Director of Operations
Construction Sector Council
(905) 852-9186
sparks@csc-ca.org
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New forecast says Ontario construction industry poised to meet regional demands |
June 20, 2006
TORONTO – Ontario is in good shape to meet the demands of a growing construction industry, despite its shrinking workforce, according to a new forecast released today by the Construction Sector Council (CSC). Construction Looking Forward – Labour Requirements from 2006 to 2014 for Ontario, says a mobile workforce that shifts to different regions of the province will be key to meeting industry demand over the next nine years.
The forecast says that investment will increase by an average of 2% per year, and that an estimated 48,000 workers will be needed to replace retirees. More than 22,000 additional workers will be required to meet new construction demand.
The CSC has been working with all disciplines of the industry over the past year to develop Construction Looking Forward reports for each province. They are being released across the country this month.
“The regional perspective in the Ontario report gives industry leaders the foresight needed to keep the construction industry on a viable track,” says Ron Martin, Executive Director of Sudbury Construction Association. The forecast looks at factors that affect labour requirements -- such as investment and retirement rates -- for Ontario, and separately for each of its five regions.
“The pace of activity is manageable because as the workforce shifts from region to region, labour markets balance,” adds Martin. “But we are keeping an eye on demands from the West as that could disturb that balance.”
Patrick Dillon of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council says “the data on what skills will be needed and where is particularly useful for the development of training programs, which will be very much in demand. We have the training capacity to meet future needs.”
On the residential side, Victor Fiume, President of the Ontario Home Builders Association, says recruitment and training will also remain a priority for the housing sector as housing starts are expected to remain healthy in Ontario.
“When labour is tight, safety and quality concerns are top of mind,” adds Ron McGillis, Manager - Safety, Compliance & Contractor Quality at Ontario Power Generation says. “The type of detailed information in this forecast, such as when and where shortages can occur, gives us the ‘heads up’ we need.”
The Construction Sector Council was established in 2001, as an independent labour/business partnership to address the workforce needs of the construction industry. The CSC is a neutral forum that brings together stakeholders to provide data that industry can use to make critical planning decisions. CSC provides this data to industry who undertake their own analysis. Construction Looking Forward reports are produced annually by the CSC for all provinces. They are available electronically at www.csc-ca.org.
Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.
MORE INFORMATION:
Patrick Dillon
Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer
Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council
Tel (416) 679-8887
Cell (416) 828-6617
patrick@ontariobuildingtrades.com
Ron Martin
Executive Director
Sudbury Construction Association
(705) 673-5619
martin@constructionnorth.com
Rosemary Sparks
Director of Projects
Construction Sector Council
Tel (905) 852-9186
Cell (416) 271-2633
sparks@csc-ca.org
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New Alberta construction forecast says training key to future growth |
MAY 18, 2006
EDMONTON – Industry leaders agree, following the release today of a new labour requirements forecast, that the path to continued growth for Alberta’s construction industry lies in the right skills training. The forecast says that tight labour conditions and the shortage of some skilled trades will continue until at least 2008.
Published by the Construction Sector Council (CSC) and its partners, the 2006-2014 forecast says tight conditions are also likely to remain later in the period as older workers retire and fewer workers are recruited from out-of-province.
Construction Looking Forward – Labour Requirements from 2006 to 2014 for Alberta “is a timely tool that allows us to act today to avert problems tomorrow -- whether that means new human resource policies, innovative recruiting methods, or more training in certain areas,” says Neil Tidsbury, President of the Construction Labour Relations – Alberta, and a member of the CSC Board of Directors.
“One of our first challenges is to train and upgrade our domestic workforce in the skills needed to meet upcoming demand,” he says.
The forecast is published annually by the CSC and is based on a model developed by the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA).
Lynn Zeidler, Vice President of Horizon Construction Management Ltd. working on Canadian Natural’s – Horizon Oil Sands Project, and Past President of COAA, points to the huge increase in oil sands investment combined with the aging workforce as the main reasons for the tight labour market. “New jobs are being created for almost 12,000 workers between 2006 and 2009 alone, she says. Apprenticeship training and skills upgrading will be in hot demand.” The Horizon Project is building an on-site Skills Development Centre.
According to the forecast, Alberta will have to replace an estimated 16% of its construction workforce over the forecast period, or almost 17,000 people, to maintain 2004 workforce levels.
Grant Ainsley, an Executive Officer with the Alberta Home Builders’ Association says “Construction Looking Forward puts the industry ahead of the planning curve, by providing details of the broader economic environment, investments, retirements, and training, and their impact on labour requirements. We know we have worker shortages, so it's important to not only look for ways to fill the gaps, but also to determine how many workers we'll need in the future. This work is part of the puzzle to solve labour shortages in our industry.”
The forecast was produced by the CSC working with the Construction Workforce Development Forecasting Committee – a sub-committee of COAA – labour groups, and government. Construction Looking Forward reports are being released over the next few weeks in all provinces, and the new reality of the threat to economic growth, posed by fewer workers and more work, is a common theme throughout.
The Construction Sector Council was established in 2001 as an independent labour/business partnership to address the workforce needs of the construction industry. The CSC is a neutral forum that brings together stakeholders to provide data that industry can use to make critical planning decisions. CSC provides this data to industry who undertake their own analysis. Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program. The report is available on the CSC website at www.ccs-ca.org.
More Information:
Herb Holmes
Construction Labour Relations – Alberta
(780) 451-5444
herb@clra.org
Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
(613) 569-5552
sparks@csc-ca.org
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