Canada’s Natural Resources & Foreign Trade Opportunities for 2023 Could Boost Construction Outlook
Canada's construction industry could get a boost with additional investment and projects from it's natural resources and trade opportunities in 2023.
It’s no industry secret that construction has always faced labor challenges and will continue to do so well into the future.
According to BuildForce Canada’s 2025–2034 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward report, meeting the industry’s near- and long-term labor market demand will require a combination of strategies, including increasing the recruitment and training of youth and focusing on traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women, Indigenous people, and newcomers to Canada.
The Daily Commercial News has looked at the numbers, breaking out the various levels of representation among these groups nationally and for each province.
It should be noted that employment projections by BuildForce were developed with industry input prior to the emergence of trade tensions between Canada and the United States.
The National Outlook
- In 2023, there were approximately 217,700 women employed in Canada’s construction industry. Of them, 29 percent worked directly in onsite construction. However, as a share of the total 1.21 million tradespeople employed in the industry, women accounted for just five percent of the onsite construction workforce.
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Indigenous people accounted for 5.2 percent of Canada’s construction labor force in 2023.
Alberta
- New registrations in Alberta’s apprenticeship programs increased by nearly 50 percent in 2023.
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In 2024, approximately 39,140 women were employed in Alberta’s construction industry. Of them, 32 percent worked onsite. Overall, women made up seven percent of the total workforce in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people represented 6.6 percent of Alberta’s construction labor force.
British Columbia
- New registrations in British Columbia’s 25 largest construction trades increased by 36 percent in 2023 as the reintroduction of skilled trade certification in the province led to unprecedented growth.
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In 2024, there were approximately 30,700 women employed in British Columbia’s construction industry. Of them, 35 percent worked directly in onsite construction. Of the 185,600 tradespeople employed in the industry in 2024, women made up six percent.
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In 2023, Indigenous workers accounted for 6.7 percent of the province’s construction workforce.
Ontario
- In 2023, new registrations across Ontario’s 30 largest construction trade programs rose by 10 percent compared to the previous year, setting a record for the number of new apprentices registered in the province.
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In 2024, there were approximately 79,410 women employed in Ontario’s construction industry. Of them, 28 percent worked onsite. However, women made up just five percent of the total tradespeople in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people accounted for 3.4 percent of Ontario’s construction labor force.
Quebec
- In 2023 new registrations in the 26 largest construction programs saw a decline.
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In 2024, approximately 45,360 women were employed in Quebec’s construction industry, of which 24 percent worked onsite. Of the 224,300 tradespeople employed in the industry, women made up five percent.
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In 2023, Indigenous people accounted for just 1.7 percent of the provincial labor force and 3 percent of the construction workforce.
Manitoba
- New registrations in Manitoba’s 17 largest construction-apprenticeship programs rose by 18 percent in 2023 to reach a record high.
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In 2024, there were 5,960 women employed in Manitoba’s construction industry. Of them, 49 percent worked onsite. Women made up seven percent of the entire onsite workforce in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people accounted for 17.7 percent of Manitoba’s construction workforce, which is not only the highest share of Indigenous people among all provinces but also the highest share in the province’s history.
Saskatchewan
- In 2023, new registrations increased by nearly 30 percent from the previous year, marking the highest number of new registrants since 2014.
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In 2024, there were approximately 4,090 women employed in Saskatchewan’s construction industry. Of them, 44 percent worked onsite. Of the total tradespeople, women made up five percent in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people represented 12.4 percent of Saskatchewan’s construction labor force.
Newfoundland and Labrador
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New registrations in Newfoundland and Labrador’s 11 largest construction trade programs increased by 22 percent in 2023 compared to 2022 levels.
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In 2024, there were approximately 2,130 women employed in Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction industry. Of them, 12 percent worked onsite. They made up just two percent of the entire workforce in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people represented 12 percent of Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction labor force—more than the 9.6 percent represented in the total provincial labor force.
Nova Scotia
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New registrations in Nova Scotia’s 20 largest construction trades reached a record high in 2023, increasing by 73 percent compared to 2022.
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In 2024, there were approximately 3,870 women employed in Nova Scotia’s construction industry. Of them, 24 percent worked onsite. Women made up three percent of the trade workforce in 2024.
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In 2023, Indigenous people accounted for approximately five percent of Nova Scotia’s construction labor force.
New Brunswick
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New registrations in New Brunswick’s 17 largest construction apprenticeship programs increased by 14 percent year over year in 2023.
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In 2024, there were approximately 3,590 women employed in New Brunswick’s construction industry. Of them, 21 percent worked on-site. Overall, women accounted for three percent of the 2024 trades workforce.
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In 2023, Indigenous people represented 2.6 percent of New Brunswick’s construction labor force.
Prince Edward Island
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New registrations reached a record level in 2023, driven by increased intakes in the carpenter, construction electrician, and welder trade programs.
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In 2024, there were approximately 910 women employed in Prince Edward Island’s construction industry, an increase of more than 300 compared to 2023. Of them, 36 percent worked onsite. In total, women made up five percent in 2024.
In 2021, Indigenous people accounted for approximately three percent of Prince Edward Island’s construction labor force. That figure was more than double the share reported in 2016 and higher than the share represented in the overall provincial labor force in 2021.
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