The latest data from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) suggest that the construction industry is once again operating at a high level. 

LFS data for July 2024 find construction employment at 1,644,200 – an increase of 14,400 workers, or 0.9% above the figures reported in July 2023. The industry’s labour force, meanwhile, grew by 8,000 workers, or 0.5%, during this same period. 

These trends combined to lower the construction industry’s unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points from a year ago, to 3.9%. That figure is approaching the lows the sector saw in August and September of last year – when rates were below 3.5% – and is well below the five- and ten-year average unemployment rates for July of 4.6% and 5.4%, respectively. 

The year-over-year decrease speaks to strong growth in activity across the country as the industry reaches its traditional busy period and as work continues on projects of all types and sizes in all regions. 

Construction employment increased in all but four provinces in the past 12 months. Leading the way was British Columbia, which added 32,600 workers (14.8%). Quebec followed with an increase of 21,100 workers (6.6%), while smaller increases were reported in all four Atlantic provinces. 

Ontario, meanwhile, recorded by far the largest employment contraction, year over year, decreasing by 38,300 workers (-6.2%). Much smaller contractions were reported in Alberta (-6,100), Manitoba (-5,100), and Saskatchewan (-100). 

Employment among females contracted over the past 12 months, with the latest data showing 17,800 fewer women (-7.9%) employed in the sector than a year ago. Although there was growth of 4.9% among women aged 15 to 24 years, a fact that suggests targeted recruiting efforts are yielding results, contractions of 8.9% were seen in both cohorts of women older than 25 years old.  

Among men, employment gains were also greatest in the youngest cohort, i.e., those aged 15 to 24 years. Employment for this age group increased by 20%, with significant gains reported in Newfoundland and Labrador (233%), Prince Edward Island (188%), Quebec (97%), and British Columbia (53%). An employment gain of 0.6% nationally (5,500 workers) among men aged 25 to 54 years was more than offset by a contraction of 3.1%, or 8,500 workers, among those aged 55 years and older. 

Construction unemployment rates across the provinces varied from a high of 12.8% in Newfoundland and Labrador to a low of 1.9% in Manitoba. Several provinces reported rates of below 5%, including Alberta (2.4%), British Columbia (3.4%), Quebec (3.7%), Ontario (4.2%), and Nova Scotia (4.8%).

This article was written by Klayton Gonçalves, Senior Economist and Head of Business Intelligence for BuildForce Canada, and was first published on the BuildForce Canada Labour Market Corner blog.