HUMAN RESOURCES
Although again, even in the face of
all this, the construction industry across
Canada is still facing its biggest challenge
yet: skilled trades shortages. According to
BuildForce,1 over the course of this decade,
257,000 Boomers will retire out of the
industry Canada-wide and considering the
current rate of new workers entering the
trades, plus factoring in modest growth,
there is expected to be a 100,000-person
shortfall. This does not even consider the
lower productivity of rookie and junior
tradespeople versus the seasoned, skilled
workers that are retiring.
Industry insiders and analysts have
been warning of this for years, and some
initiatives and changes have been put in
place, but are they enough? Further, is this
shortage going to affect rural Manitoba?
Local industry and educators were asked
for some local insights.
To start, where is Manitoba’s construction
sector in relation to Canada
today and throughout the next 10 years?
Manitoba has enjoyed a decade of growth
in the construction sector since 2009,
with a net increase of over 12,000 workers
through 2019, peaking at just over
40,000 workers. With the completion
of some large-scale energy projects and
the onset of COVID-19, demand in
non-residential construction workers
has declined 6.5 per cent through 2020
to 37,500.1 Forecasts through 2030 see a
slight softening of demand overall, with a
650-worker decline (-3 per cent) expected
in the non-residential sector being mostly
offset by a 500 worker increase in the residential
sector. So, demand for workers in
the industry is expected to hold.
There are about 8,000 workers set to
retire out of the construction industry in
Manitoba by the end of the decade. With
the current pace of new entrants to the
industry, and continued focus on attracting
young apprentices, the expectation
is that new workers will be sufficient, on
average, to cover the construction industry
needs through to 2030. In fact, Manitoba,
P.E.I, and Newfoundland and Labrador
are the only provinces forecast to keep
the construction workforce staffed well
enough to support demand.1
So, how did Manitoba achieve this and
does it hold true right down to the individual
skilled trades levels?
Kevin Poirier, associate dean of trades
at Assiniboine Community College,
The areas with the biggest
concern are within the
carpentry, electrical and
general labour trades.
NSDEFENDER/123RF
Prompt, Courteous Service
46 | Issue 1 2021 www.carm.ca
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