Fred Lum/the Globe and Mail
Ms. Bruin’s case is just one indication of the construction labour shortages that industry leaders warn could be getting worse. As resale home prices have climbed to new heights this year, almost every major housing market is seeing an uptick in construction. That’s causing shortages of key tradespeople. And it’s all happening at the same time as a wave of retirements of the most skilled workers is beginning to crest.
The other pressure is that, without the ability to find new workers, she can’t grow her business, which is already booked five months in advance. And as labour rates rise, she has to eat any shortfalls that come from jobs she quoted half a year ago. “If all the sudden my labour costs go up 30 per cent, I’m not changing their quotes, it’s not fair to my clients.”
Mr. Pariser argues that Ontario should have the ability to set its own immigration qualifications to address labour needs, though he points out some trades are better able to recruit internationally than others, pointing to success among electricians and plumbers unions to bring in overseas talent.There are programs to train existing residents in the key trades, he says, though many are too small to address the looming shortfall.
“For Toronto area, our college of carpenters brings in 100-110 through the school boards,” he said. “That’s a five-year project to bring a young person in; we graduate 100 apprentices each year, and 20 per cent are women,” he said, an impressive figure when the overall construction industry averages between 3 and 7 per cent women workers. “If we want to bring in young women into the building trades, the best way is through the school boards.
There’s also a worker shortage. My renovation was delayed since most of the workers were on CERB and didn’t want to work until it was done. The business owner couldn’t find anyone JustinTrudeau cdnpoli