Much of the labor shortage problem in Quebec's construction industry could be solved by focusing on hiring more women and immigrants and, above all, better integration.
• Also read: Assessment for 2023: “Full-time job growth in Quebec has been disappointing,” says the BN’s chief economist
A study prepared by Desjardins and published yesterday shows the scale of the challenges facing the construction industry. Overcoming these challenges is all the more important because, for its authors, the building represents nothing more and nothing less than the “foundation stone” for overcoming the housing crisis currently plaguing the province.
Desjardins cites the industry's very low ability to integrate workers with a migrant background into its ranks as one of the challenges exacerbating this labor shortage.
Construction is one of the three industries with the lowest proportion of immigrants and non-permanent residents in Quebec. Their share of industry is only 9%, just above the mining and oil production sector (7%) and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (8%).
Far behind Canada and the United States
Florence Jean-Jacobs, senior economist at Desjardins and co-author (with Marc Desormeaux) of the study, is careful not to describe the construction industry as declining. However, it notes with regret that the industry benefits significantly less from the availability of jobs from immigrants than other sectors in general (20% on average).
This situation is in contrast to that of the United States. Workers born outside the U.S. make up 34% of jobs on construction sites. In Canada, migrant construction workers (immigrants or non-permanent residents) make up 22% of the industry, while in Quebec they only make up 9%.
Guillaume Houle, Public Affairs Manager, Quebec Construction Association (ACQ) ACQ
Guillaume Houle, representative of the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ), agrees on the importance of quickly addressing the problem of labor shortages in the sector. He believes increased recruitment through a temporary immigrant program specifically tailored to the construction industry could certainly help.
As the housing industry experiences one of its weakest periods in recent decades, it is estimated that 12,000 positions are currently vacant due to a lack of candidates.
She is concerned about what will happen if market conditions (government programs, lower mortgage rates, etc.) encourage construction to resume. With the workforce available, will the industry be able to meet demand? Nothing is safe.
Women continue to lag behind
Another group that remains underrepresented in the construction industry is women. In terms of the proportion of women in the total workforce (13%), the construction industry in Quebec is the 20th largest economic sector.
This percentage is even lower, Desjardins points out, if we use the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) definition. In 2022, 3.65% of the 197,900 active workers subject to the R-20 law in Quebec were women.
Florence Jean-Jacobs, senior economist, Desjardins Desjardins
The core of the problem appears to be labor relations. Citing a study commissioned by CCQ, Desjardins reports that the situation in this regard has far from improved in the last 20 years, but has worsened significantly.
Poor working conditions and job instability are cited by a larger proportion of respondents. As many as 9% of former industrial workers say they have experienced discrimination based on their gender or ethnic origin.
Almost one in five former employees (18%) say they have been a victim of intimidation or harassment (sexual or psychological). And this proportion is significantly higher for women, regardless of whether they have left the industry or not.
work to do
Without denying this reality, Isabelle Demers, vice-president of strategic development at the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec (APCHQ), is reassured when she sees the efforts the industry is willing to make to improve things.
Opening up labor pools to make it easier for new talent to enter this industry seems essential. Additionally, the establishment of a new accelerated training program last fall for the APCHQ represents a step in the right direction.
Hydro-Québec's new action plan calls for spending between $155 billion and $185 billion on new projects by 2035. JOEL LEMAY/AGENCE QMI
“In an ideal world,” she said, “a painter who travels from the Maghreb should have no obstacles to continuing to practice his profession here.” Unfortunately, we are not there yet. But with more flexibility in trade, we can hope for that.” The proposed reform of Law R-20, expected by 2025, could help achieve this.
In addition to the low integration of women and immigrants in the industry, Desjardins economists point out that the recently announced start of numerous large industrial or institutional construction projects could potentially make recruiting workers for housing construction even more difficult.
Hydro-Québec's new major projects, the continuation of work on the Réseau Express Métropolitain, the Royalmount commercial development and the construction of the Northvolt plant are all projects that are likely to use the same workforce.
Table 1:
Proportion of immigrants and non-permanent residents in the construction industry
- United States 34%
- Canada 22%
- Quebec 9%
Source: Statistics Canada and Desjardins, Economic Studies.
Table 2:
Labor shortages in several construction sectors by 2026
Occupation, number of regions with a deficit situation
- Civil engineer 16
- Civil engineer 16
- Technologist for electrical engineering and electronics 16
- Welder 16
- Mechanic 16
- Transport truck driver 16
- Mechanical engineer 15
- Electrical engineer 15
- Carpenter-joiner 15
- Mechanics and electrical network operators 14
- Electrician 13
- Heavy equipment operator 13
- Promotion of the construction industry 12
Source: Government of Quebec and Desjardins, Economic Studies
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.