A couple of months ago, BuildForce Canada released the 2014-2023 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward forecast. In the forecast, BuildForce estimates that Alberta will lead the country’s construction industry over the next 10 years. This is because of the residential work and the new major oil sands projects, which are also expected to drive job growth in nearly every year from now until 2023.
Engineering, resource, major oil sands and flood repair projects are leading non-residential job growth over the next decade, and hiring in 2014 is specifically boosted by the oil sands projects and jobs created for flood repair.
However, with this growth there are some recruiting challenges. Over the next 10 years it is expected that 22% of Alberta’s workforce will be retiring, and the province will therefore need to replace up to 45,000 workers. This challenge is magnified by the reality that there is a lot of competition for skilled labour in other provinces.
Because of the province’s high demand for skilled labour there is a big need for a solid, permanent workforce. It’s important that skilled trades careers are promoted and that there are enough training and retention programs in place to support the future generation of workers.
What do you think about these figures? Do you think they pose a problem for Alberta, or an opportunity? Comment below to let us know what you think these means for Alberta and the construction and maintenance industry.
For more info, check out the full report here.
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In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we work on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut'ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
