But industry experts don’t see the labour gap closing any time soon.For more than two decades, Lee said there’s been a shift away from directing younger generations into skilled trades, and toward what he calls the “knowledge economy.” That comes alongside a growing shift on the other end of the labour force, where around a fifth of the industry is set to retire in the coming decade, he said.
This was echoed by a recent industry survey by construction management software company Procore, where almost 30 per cent of respondents said they have been unable to take on more projects in the past three to six months due to labour shortages. Despite efforts by schools like SAIT to speak to high school students, and an array of credit programs and scholarships, it’s still tough work to attract the younger generation to the sector, said Bond. The volatile nature of the work, which pays well hourly but can vary depending on demand, has also led some to leave the sector, she said.
In the labour report, CMHC proposed a number of solutions, including converting existing commercial buildings into residential units, building more multi-unit housing, further incentivizing people to enter the construction field, and creating more targeted immigration programs to help bring in workers to the trades.