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Labour

Home - Advocacy - Labour

Statistics from BuildForce Canada

Across the decade:

  • The available non-residential workforce expands by 6,500 workers, as unemployment is driven below historical levels.
  • More than 39,300 workers are lost to retirement and must be replaced.
  • An estimated 40,600 new entrants are drawn into the workforce to meet these demands.
  • Meeting overall labour requirements will require an additional 5,200 workers from outside the provincial markets to meet total demand requirements.
  • Rising employment draws workers from unemployment. Large and specialized requirements for major civil and utilities projects may require the need to recruit from other markets.

Changes are not evenly distributed across the province’s regions and the mobility of the workforce will be a critical factor in balancing supply and demand. From 2016 to 2019, employment gains are strongest in Southwest Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with Eastern and Central Ontario lagging. The varied strength of the new housing revival and the start of major projects are the main factors separating regional performance.

Ontario Construction Careers Alliance (OCCA)

  • Created by 17 construction industry Associations
  • Dedicated to promoting career opportunities in the Civil Construction industry
  • Increasing public and government support mandate
  • Provide support and resources to youth entering the Civil Construction industry.
  • Help youth to advance their careers in Civil Construction through experience and education.
  • Maintain solid partnerships with Associations who promote Civil Construction Careers

Whether your interests lead you into a civil construction trade or to a career in civil engineering and technical professions, the civil construction industry offers an unmatched combination of choice, opportunity and reward. Join a team that’s designing, building and maintaining the infrastructure that will be the foundation for the Canada of the future.

Be a part of a dynamic, high-tech industry that’s using lasers, computers, GPS, nuclear technology, advanced design and modeling software and much more to create the water treatment and distribution systems, highways and bridges, mass transit systems, utilities distribution networks and other public and private core infrastructure assets that are needed to support healthy communities and economic development.

With opportunities ranging from truck driver, pipelayer, asphalt/concrete crew worker or materials production to testing technicians and heavy equipment operators, the civil construction industry requires hard work and dedication, but offers higher than average pay, an exciting and challenging work environment and unlimited potential to progress and succeed in the industry. On the side of professions civil engineers and technicians/technologists will find opportunities in the private and public sectors ranging from infrastructure design, project management and quality control to contract administration and environmental management. The possibilities are endless!

Click OCCA to view a presentation about OCCA.

Careers

There are approximately 40 jobs listed on OCCA’s site. Specific jobs related to road construction include:

  • Construction Craft worker 
  • Asphalt Crew member
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineering Technician
  • Civil Engineering Technologist
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Health and Safety Representative
  • Estimator
  • Quality Control Officer
  • Field Material Testing Technician
  • Laboratory Material Testing Technician

For more information on the different job opportunities, visit OCCA’s website at www.myocca.ca. 

References:
1. BuildForce Canada. (2015). Industry Celebrates Workforce That’s Hands On in Building Economy [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.buildforce.ca/en/media/press-releases
2. BuildForce Canada. (2016). Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward (Ontario) [report]. Retrieved from https://www.constructionforecasts.ca/sites/forecast/files/highlights/2016/2016_ON_Constr_Maint_Looking_Forward.pdf