Topic
Labour
Construction labour market closes out 2019 on high note, adding 17K jobs in December
January 10, 2020 On-Site StaffThe construction labour market finished strong in 2019, posting a considerable 17,000-position gain in December. The positive close-out to the year, during which employment gains and losses have seesawed back and forth, translates to a 1.2 per cent increase in…
2020 Construction Forecast: Positive momentum to continue, but industry needs to embrace change
December 18, 2019 David KennedyA steady stream of building projects in most regions of Canada, and particularly within its big urban centres, have kept the construction industry busy through the second half of 2019. Though concerns about how long growth can continue persist, much…
From the editor… Megaprojects test industry’s capacity to deliver
December 14, 2019 by David KennedyFew and far between just a few years ago, multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects have become the norm in Ontario. With planning now underway for four new or extended transit lines in the Toronto area, Canada’s most populous province will be measuring…
Provinces step up with new funds to boost trades during National Skilled Trades and Technology Week
November 8, 2019 On-Site StaffAcross the country, skilled tradespersons are expected to be increasingly short supply in the coming years, in both construction and beyond
Construction industry loses 21,300 jobs in October, led by declines in Quebec, Ontario
November 8, 2019 On-Site StaffA loss of 21,300 construction jobs in October pushed overall employment in the industry down to about 1.46 million, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada — translating to a construction labour market that’s only marginally ahead of where…
EllisDon teams up with Build a Dream to boost construction industry diversification
November 1, 2019 by Megan HoeglerEllisDon and non-profit Build a Dream have partnered up to tackle diversification in the construction industry. The contractor and Windsor-based non-profit organization will work together to attract young women to careers in construction, where only 3.8 per cent of job site…
Construction job market continues to seesaw with solid September gain
October 11, 2019 On-Site StaffThe back and forth in the construction labour market experienced over the past several months continued into September with a significant number of new jobs added during the first month of fall. Employers added 9,800 workers to payroll in September…
Leaders’ debate: Trudeau defends efforts to save SNC-Lavalin jobs. He’s right
October 9, 2019 Bill FlanaganThe SNC-Lavalin scandal has weighed on the prime minister and the Liberals since early this year
Labour shortages are holding back the construction sector: Here’s what governments and businesses can do
October 9, 2019 Dan KellyHaving the right people for the job can make or break a small business. With a smaller team to rely on and fewer resources to devote to hiring, any unfilled position is a strain on productivity. So it’s not surprising…
EllisDon taps two industry veterans to take over operations of Toronto Buildings Group
October 7, 2019 On-Site StaffEllisDon Corp. has named two new vice-presidents of operations within its Toronto Buildings Group. Replacing Tim Smith, who has spent more than three decades with the company and is currently serving as the interim senior vice-president of operations for the…
Ontario Labour ministry inspectors to conduct safety blitz to prevent common injuries
October 2, 2019 Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian PressTORONTO—Inspectors from the Ontario Ministry of Labour will hold a “workplace safety blitz” in the coming months in an effort to prevent the most common on-the-job injuries. Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says the three-month project — running from Oct. 1…
‘They really hate us’: New prompt payment rules may help mend relationship between GCs, subtrades
September 16, 2019 David KennedyTension between separate levels of the construction industry is part of the business. Legal changes may relieve one major source of strain
Construction industry loses 2,100 jobs in August after major July gain
September 10, 2019 On-Site StaffOTTAWA—The construction industry’s labour market gave up some of its earlier gains last month with employment declining 0.1 per cent on the month, Statistics Canada said in its latest assessment. The 2,100 jobs, seasonally adjusted, lost in August follow a…
Trudeau announces advisory committee aimed at promoting skilled trades
August 17, 2019 Keith Doucette, The Canadian PressHALIFAX—A new advisory committee will help promote apprenticeships and skilled trades across Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Aug. 16. Trudeau made the announcement prior to a roundtable meeting focused on promoting trades for women at a Nova Scotia Community…
B.C. Supreme Court to hear construction groups’ challenge to province’s Community Benefits Agreement
July 24, 2019 by David KennedyThe contentious labour rules have already been to put work on numerous big-ticket jobs, such as a major widening project on the Trans-Canada Highway and the new Pattullo Bridge
New CCA mentorship program connects innovators with contractors looking to test novel solutions
July 9, 2019 David KennedyWithout the direct input of end users, innovations are often little more than solutions in search of problems
Construction jobs dry up in June as industry posts another decline in employment
July 5, 2019 On-Site StaffOTTAWA—Aside from a big April gain, there’s been little to brag about in the Canadian construction industry’s labour market this year. And the negative news shows few signs of abating. Statistics Canada released its June Labour Force survey July 5,…
LNG Canada training initiative aims to recruit women to work on Kitimat, B.C. megaproject
June 18, 2019 David KennedyVANCOUVER—The team of companies behind the development and construction of a major liquefied natural gas project on British Columbia’s north coast have launched a new initiative aimed at recruiting more women to work on building the liquefaction plant and export…
Construction industry faced highest number of unfilled jobs in Q1, surpassing national average: CFIB
June 15, 2019 by Jillian MorganTORONTO—The number of unfilled jobs in Canada’s construction sector outpaced all other industries and the national average in the first four quarter of 2019, according to a recent report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. Coast to coast, 435,000…
Ontario plumbers, pipefitters return to work after week-long strike
June 12, 2019 by Jillian MorganWHITBY, Ont.—Just a week after Ontario plumbers and steamfitters walked off the job over work hours and hiring practices, the two labour organizations involved in the dispute have struck a deal. The Ontario Pipe Trades Council said June 11 it…