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July 11, 2008 – Employment Opportunities in Ontario’s construction industry
June 25, 2008 – More than 18,000 Skilled Workers Needed in Atlantic Canada
June 23, 2008 – Manitoba’s Building Boom Taps Into Available Skilled Trades
June 10, 2008 – Skilled Trades Workers Returning Home to Saskatchewan
June 9, 2008 – Construction Reaches All Time High in B.C.
June 2, 2008 – Help Wanted: 250,000 Skilled Trades Workers
May 7, 2008 – The Government of Canada Takes Action to Address Canada's Need for Skilled Labour
April 17, 2008 – Number of temporary foreign workers in construction is on the rise
March 31, 2008 – Community Colleges Join forces with Construction to Address Skill Shortages
February 20, 2008 – Government of Canada gives boost to national construction industry

Employment Opportunities in Ontario’s
construction industry

74,000 new workers needed over the next eight years

July 11, 2008

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

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More than 18,000 Skilled Workers Needed in
Atlantic Canada

Major New Projects Stretching Available Workforce

June 25, 2008

St. John’s – Major engineering and industrial construction projects In New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador will stretch Atlantic Canada’s workforce to the limit, according to the Construction Sector Council.

“We’ve got a record number of big projects planned or underway in the Atlantic region including a nuclear power plant, oil refinery projects, hydro and highway construction,” said Timothy Flood, President of John Flood and Sons Limited, the oldest construction company in Canada. “These projects require more skilled workers than we have available.”

The information is contained in the Construction Sector Council’s fourth annual edition of “Construction Looking Forward,” a detailed forecast of labour market trends from 2008 to 2016 in Atlantic Canada.

Ongoing construction activity will keep Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island busy but replacing an older than average construction workforce will create a significant challenge towards the end of the forecast.

The report finds that Atlantic Canada will need more than 5,000 new trades people to meet demands for new construction. The age of Atlantic Canada’s workforce is above the national average. As a result an unprecedented 13,600 workers are needed to replace retiring baby boomers between now and 2016.

“With so many workers retiring, this makes attracting, training, and retaining skilled workers more important than ever,” said Carol MacCulloch, President of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia.

Major new industrial and engineering projects will require specific skilled trades.

“To remain competitive and attract industrial development we will have to step up training and recruitment efforts to find enough skilled workers to keep up, no doubt about it,” said Dermot Cain, Canadian Director, of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

The boom in large construction projects will also affect residential construction.

“We’ll see a burst in residential building in Atlantic Canada to accommodate workers coming in from out of province, “said Grant MacLeod, President of the PEI Residential Construction Sector Council. It’s a real domino effect.”

For a copy of the Atlantic labour market forecast visit our website: www.csc-ca.org.

For further information contact:

Bob Collins
Construction Sector Council
(cell) 416-399-0413

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Manitoba’s Building Boom Taps Into Available Skilled Trades

Over 10,000 Workers Needed to Keep up with Construction

June 23, 2008

Winnipeg – Robust construction activity across all sectors has pushed employment of the skilled trades’ workforce to record levels according to the Construction Sector Council’s latest forecast.

“Never in the history of the province have we seen so many current and planned projects,” said John Schubert, President of the Winnipeg Construction Association. “Our construction workforce is stretched and attracting more young people, women and Aboriginals into construction trades is a must to keep up.”

The information is contained in the Construction Sector Council’s (CSC) fourth annual edition of “Construction Looking Forward,” a detailed forecast of labour market trends from 2008 to 2016 in Manitoba.

Manitoba’s construction industry employs almost 22,000 workers. As many as 6,000 new workers are required to keep pace with new projects. Another 4,500 workers are needed to replace retiring baby boomers between now and 2016.

“We need to recruit and train workers in every sector,” said David Martin, Executive Director of the Manitoba Building and Construction Trades Council. “The challenge now is to make sure apprenticeship and other training programs meet the demand for skilled workers. Many colleges are rising to the challenge with more innovate methods to deliver skills training.”

The report shows an unprecedented number of new construction projects including the Trans Canada and Enbridge pipelines, the Manitoba Floodway and new wind, ethanol, and hydroelectric power plants. In addition, there are a number of infrastructure projects scheduled for development including the Winnipeg water treatment plant and highway construction throughout the province.

“This is great news for Manitoba,” said Mike Moore, President of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association. “Our residential construction industry continues to grow at an unprecedented rate and employment opportunities are tremendous”.

For a copy of the Manitoba labour market forecast visit our website: www.csc-ca.org

For Further Information Contact:

David Martin
Executive Director
Manitoba Building and Construction Trades Council
(204) 782-3832

Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
(905) 852-9186

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Skilled Trades Workers Returning Home to Saskatchewan

Construction at Record Levels with Surge in New Projects

June 10, 2008

Regina – More skilled trades workers are moving back to Saskatchewan to help the construction industry keep pace with record construction activity, according to the latest forecast by the Construction Sector Council.

“Saskatchewan is now a major draw in the fierce Canada-wide competition for skilled labour,” said Michael Fougere, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Association. “With more residents coming back, new immigrants coming in, and apprenticeship programs on the rise, the construction industry is doing everything possible to meet the challenges created by this construction boom.”

The report shows that since 2001, Saskatchewan’s construction workforce has grown twice as fast as the overall provincial labour force at 11%. Over the next few years, construction employment will increase by 14% or 3,800 workers. Still another 4,000 workers will be required between now and 2016 to keep pace with retiring baby boomers.

“We’re seeing more residential and non residential projects, and a shift to big resource based industrial and engineering projects,” said Sid Matthews, President of the CLR Construction Labour Relations Association of Saskatchewan Inc. “With more work than workers we have to compete with other provinces for skilled people in just about every construction trade.”

Manufacturing investment in Saskatchewan is at an all time high. Several projects are underway or scheduled, including ethanol and food processing plants, potash and uranium mine expansions. “The surge in industrial and engineering investment in Saskatchewan shows us where the opportunities are,” said Terry Parker, Business Manager of the Saskatchewan Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council. “Apprenticeship programs should be targeted to match emerging demands and attract far more youth, women and Aboriginals.”

Construction activity will remain strong over the next few years.

“That means we have to be more aggressive in promoting careers in construction and making investments in training,” said Alan Thomarat, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Saskatchewan. “It’s an investment in the people and skills that are in high demand in Canada.”

As one of the largest industries in Canada, construction employs more than a million Canadians. As many as 250,000 construction workers are needed across Canada by 2016 to keep pace with new projects and retirements.

For a copy of the Saskatchewan labour market forecast visit our website: www.csc-ca.org

For Further Information Contact:

Michael Fougere
Saskatchewan Construction Association
Chair, Saskatchewan LMI Committee
Ph. (306) 525-0171

Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
Office (905) 852-9186
Cell (416)-271-2633

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Construction Reaches All Time High in B.C.

47,000 Skilled Trades Workers Needed to Keep Pace

June 9, 2008

Victoria – British Columbia leads the country in construction employment growth as the number of construction projects hits a record high according to this year’s forecast from the Construction Sector Council.

Major projects relating to the Olympics, Asia Pacific Gateway, mining manufacturing and utilities are turning up the pressure on British Columbia’s most precious resource – its skilled labour force, which has grown by 70% to 139,000 workers since 2001.

“While there’s stiff competition for skilled workers right across Canada, this is where we really need them,” said Clyde Scollan, President of the BC Construction Labour Relations Association. “The crunch is on with major new projects across so many sectors in B.C.”

The report finds that 26,500 new workers will be required from now until 2016 to replace retiring baby boomers. Another 21,000 workers will be needed to keep pace with new projects in B.C.

“Convincing those on the verge of retirement to stay on longer will help,” said Manley McLachlan, President of the BC Construction Association. “We also need to increase the number of immigrants, temporary foreign workers and more aggressively recruit youth, women and Aboriginals to keep projects on schedule.”

Rising commodity prices have increased investment in the mining industry, tourism, transportation, warehousing and the construction of facilities for the 2010 Winter Olympics. New ethanol, pipeline, and hydroelectric projects have also been announced.

The annual forecast shows housing activity will remain strong overall,” said MJ Whitemarsh, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC. “There’s a real need to keep training and upgrading the skills of the current workforce while attracting new people.”

In 2010 non-residential construction labour markets will ease for the first time in 8 years as several major engineering and industrial projects near completion. However, overall construction activity will remain at healthy levels of investment.

“That means continuing job opportunities to keep our skilled trades workers in demand,” said Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the BC Building Trades.

For Further Information Contact:

Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
(905) 852-9186
(416) 271-2633

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Help Wanted: 250,000 Skilled Trades Workers

Canada’s Construction Sector Pushed to the Limit

June 2, 2008

Mississauga – Rising commodity prices, and major new infrastructure projects are stretching the Canadian construction industry to the limits of the national workforce, said George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the Construction Sector Council.

“I’d call it a perfect storm,” said Robert Blakely, Labour Co-Chair of the Construction Sector Council. “Major infrastructure projects right across Canada including strong government-led building of hospitals and schools as well as industrial and engineering projects are boosting the economy, but creating a real challenge for our labour force.”

The information is contained in the Construction Sector Council’s annual forecast of labour market trends called “Construction Looking Forward.” This is the most advanced and detailed forecast of labour market conditions available in Canada.

The report finds that that an unprecedented 42,000 new workers were hired last year to meet increased construction activity. Another 94,000 will be needed over the next 8 years to keep pace with new projects, and an additional 162,000 workers are required to replace retiring baby boomers.

“There’s an urgent need for new workers at every level, from residential to industrial and engineering,” said Tim Flood, Business Co-Chair of the Construction Sector Council. “We’ve got to step up our campaign to convince young people to sign up for apprenticeship programs and consider a skilled trade as a career.”

Despite economic uncertainty in the U.S, construction has been a leading industry in terms of growth and employment in Canada over the past decade. National employment across the entire construction industry has risen by a record 39% over the past five years.

The national forecast shows British Columbia and Alberta are the pacesetters with new projects increasing employment to record levels. Dramatic increases in employment have yet to come in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Saskatchewan where a number of big resource-based projects are in the planning stages. New Brunswick also faces one of the most demanding recruiting tasks with big resource projects scheduled in the coming years. Steady annual growth is forecast in the industrial and engineering trades in Ontario and Quebec.

Industry efforts at recruiting, training and retaining trades workers matched strong demands and sustained the expansion until recently. Trades and occupations in demand include industrial and engineering trades, construction managers, contractors and supervisors.

“I’m hoping we can help convince some of those on the verge of retirement to stay on longer to help ease the pressure,” said George Gritziotis. “Increasing the number of temporary foreign workers, recruiting more women and Aboriginals is also a must to keep projects on schedule.”

The CSC’s “Construction Looking Forward” national and regional forecasts provide colleges, government, labour and industry with accurate information on labour supply and demand to support the future needs of the construction industry in Canada.

For Further Information Contact:

Rosemary Sparks
Construction Sector Council
(905) 852-9186

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The Government of Canada Takes Action to Address Canada’s Need for Skilled Labour

May 7, 2008

OTTAWA – The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced new support for the Construction Sector Council to address skilled labour shortages in the construction industry.

Speaking on the federal government's plan to meet Canada's labour market challenges at the Canadian Building and Construction Trades' Legislative Conference, Minister Solberg announced new investments totalling more than $5.5 million over the next three years. This funding will help the construction industry by providing increased labour market information, addressing recruitment and retention issues and broadening the Construction Sector Council's outreach initiatives.

"Government can't address labour market problems by itself, but private sector and government partnerships are working," said Minister Solberg. "Today's investment in the Construction Sector Council is an example of the strategic partnerships our government develops to ensure that Canada has the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world. We are supporting one of Canada's largest industries so that construction jobs can be filled with employees who have the right skills."

The Government of Canada is providing $4.5 million to the Construction Sector Council's Labour Market Information Program. This will allow the construction industry to respond effectively and efficiently to the industry's demand for decision-making tools to help address human resources issues in a timely manner. It will also enable decision makers to evaluate the magnitude of construction labour shortages in specific regions, so that action can be taken.

A second contribution of $258,000 will allow the Construction Sector Council to explore the potential of retaining older workers to improve the sustainability of the construction labour force. As well, the Council will use this funding to get the most from all available labour pools and target specific audiences such as Aboriginal people, women, older workers, immigrants and temporary foreign workers. Finally, new funding of $829,000 will allow the Council to continue to expand its role as the national focal point for work force development in the construction industry, and to increase its outreach to partners at all levels-local, regional, national and even international.

"The Construction Sector Council appreciates the Government of Canada's continued commitment to the construction industry's work force development," said Mr. George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the Construction Sector Council. "Thanks to this contribution, the Council will be able to take on a new project to better serve the construction industry, while exploring new solutions to upcoming skills shortages, and broadening our outreach activities to build and maintain partnerships in Canada, and across the world."

Sector councils play a vital role in helping to strengthen the labour market, thereby contributing to the productivity and competitiveness of the economy and the standard of living of all Canadians. They bring together government, business, labour and educational stakeholders in key sectors to share ideas, concerns and perspectives about work force issues. Canada's sector councils have been successful at meeting emerging skills requirements, addressing skills and labour shortages, and building essential skills in the workplace as a foundation for continuous learning.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Visit the new Human Resources and Social Development Canada Web site at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.

For more information, please contact

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Media Relations Office
819-994-5559

Office of Minister Solberg
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
819-994-2482

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Number of temporary foreign workers in construction is on the rise

April 17, 2008

OTTAWA – A new study says the number of temporary foreign workers being used to meet short-term peak demand in the construction industry is on the rise, especially in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. If labour market opinion approvals over the past few years continue at the current rate, Alberta could potentially see a 600% increase in temporary foreign workers.

Although the stated number of construction temporary foreign workers is minimal, the trend as indicated by a six-fold increase is significant. Last year the Construction Sector Council’s Labour Market Information Program identified the need to train close to 250,000 workers by 2015 in order to replace a retiring workforce and to meet new demand for construction projects. Temporary foreign workers have been needed to fill vacant positions in specific regions and for specific trades requiring skilled and qualified workers immediately.

In response to the industry’s need to know more about this crucial labour source, the Construction Sector Council has just published: “Temporary Foreign Workers in the Canadian Construction Industry: An Analysis of Programs and Mechanisms.”

“Labour and business leaders wanted to get a handle on how many temporary foreign workers there are in the industry, where they are coming from and where they are going to work,” says CSC Executive Director George Gritziotis, noting that “the study also provided an opportunity to examine the entire process that involves a number of stakeholders.”

What came through clearly in this study is that temporary foreign workers are fulfilling a critical short term need at the worksite, and that their employment is on the rise across Canada.

Other highlights:

Most foreign workers come from the United States, with the United Kingdom and the Philippines tied for second place. Most are employed in the Institutional, Commercial and Industrial sector, with the New Home Building and Renovation sector close behind.

Study participants were nearly universal in their praise for the quality of temporary foreign workers who have made it through the system and the ways in which they are contributing to the worksite. Respondents also identified ways the processes and mechanisms could be improved.

In addition to an extensive document and literature review, 69 in-depth interviews were conducted with construction industry employers, associations, training bodies, unions, recruitment and immigrant servicing agencies.

The Construction Sector Council is a not-for-profit national labour/management organization mandated to address the human resource issues facing the construction industry in Canada. Funding for this study was provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program. It can be viewed at www.csc-ca.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Rosemary Sparks
Senior Director of Planning and Development
Construction Sector Council
613-569-5552
www.csc-ca.org

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Community Colleges Join forces with Construction to Address Skill Shortages

March 31, 2008

OTTAWA – Last year the Construction Sector Council’s Labour Market Information Program identified a need to replace 152,000 skilled workers who will be retiring over the next 10 years.

“This represents a significant training need,” says George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the Construction Sector Council (CSC). “Trades training is key to the future of the industry, to the future of our economy really,” he adds.

That’s one of the reasons that the CSC has signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). The two organizations will collaborate to make the right training available to develop the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

“It’s a perfect fit,” says ACCC President James Knight. “The CSC has the data that shows what training is needed, when and where. The ACCC can make that training a reality. And together we will work on marketing.”

As Mr. Knight explains “ACCC strives to increase the responsiveness of colleges and institutes to sectoral labour needs. This agreement with the Construction Sector Council is a step in the right direction. Construction has been a highly successful Canadian industry, but it is now hampered by a critical shortage of skilled labour. Colleges and institutes must find the means to meet these needs.”

The CSC is also interested in exploring e-learning opportunities with the ACCC and its member colleges. The CSC houses an e-learning centre with four existing courses and plans to develop nine more. “We hope to provide courses that support existing college offerings and meet new and emerging industry needs, such as supervision, for example,” Mr. Gritziotis says.

The CSC is a partnership between labour, business and government with a mandate to address the human resource needs of the construction industry. The ACCC is the national and international voice of Canada’s colleges and institutes. It helps member institutions to meet Canada’s education and training needs.

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Rosemary Sparks
Senior Director of Planning and Development
Construction Sector Council
613-569-5552
www.csc-ca.org

Lorna Malcolmson
Manager, Communications and Information Services
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
613-746-2222 ext. 3123
www.accc.ca

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Government of Canada gives boost to national construction industry

February 20, 2008

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for the Construction Sector Council to address the industry's long-term human resources issues now and in the future.

Speaking at the Selkirk Waterfront Condominium construction project in Victoria, Minister Lunn announced $3 million over four years to support the work of the Council in dealing with skilled labour shortages.

"In the past two years, our government has fulfilled its commitment to introduce major initiatives that directly help skilled trades workers and the skilled trades sector, including the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, the Tradesperson's Tools Deduction, and the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit," said Minister Lunn. "Today's investment in the Construction Sector Council goes even further. We are supporting the construction industry-one of Canada's largest employers-so that construction jobs can be filled quickly over the long term with employees who have the right skills."

The Construction Sector Council will receive the funding through the federal government's Sector Council Program. The funding will enable the Council to focus over the next four years on implementing its plan for programs and projects that respond to skills needs, strengthen human resources development, and create new opportunities in the Canadian construction industry.

"The Construction Sector Council appreciates the federal government's continued commitment to the construction industry's work force development," said Mr. George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the Construction Sector Council. "Today's announced investment allows us to continue working on a national staging ground to build relationships with all stakeholders, address regional realities of our labour market, leverage best practices, and come up with new and innovative solutions."

Sector councils play a vital role in helping to strengthen the labour market, thereby contributing to the productivity and competitiveness of the economy and the standard of living of all Canadians. They bring together governments, business, labour and educational stakeholders in key sectors to share ideas, concerns and perspectives about work force issues. Canada's sector councils have been successful at meeting emerging skills requirements, addressing skills and labour shortages, and building essential skills in the workplace as a foundation for continuous learning.

Additionally, through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Visit the new Human Resources and Social Development Canada Web site at www.hrsdc.gc.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION (MEDIA ONLY):
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559

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