Everything You Need to Know About Construction Jobs In Canada

Interested in applying for construction jobs in Canada?

Then you are heading in the right direction.

Because:

Construction is a massive industry in Canada that is growing across its various cities and regions, providing employment to over 1.4 million people.

And:

It is also the backbone of the Canadian economy, as it accounts for approximately 7.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) — contributing about $141 billion to the economy annually.

Moreover:

The construction industry in Canada is expected to record a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5% by 2024. That will make Canada’s construction sector worth a massive $354.9 billion (USD).

The most common areas of construction include:

• Residential (single unit, low-rise, high-rise)
• ICI Buildings (institutional, commercial, and industrial)
• Infrastructure (transportation, water, utilities)
• Mining
• Oil and gas
• LNG (technically part of the oil and gas industry, but separated as it’s a new emerging sector)

Which Degree & Qualifications Are Needed For Construction Jobs in Canada?

The construction industry in Canada requires both professional and skilled workers. There are different degrees and qualifications required by both professional and skilled workers for working in the construction sector in Canada. The requirements for both of them are as follows:

Requirements for Professional Workers

Professional workers need to have the following requirements for construction jobs in Canada:

• A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required.
• A master’s degree in project management may be required.
• Several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a construction supervisor or field superintendent, are usually required.
• Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements.
• Professional engineering status or construction trade certification may be required by some employers.

Requirements For Skilled Workers

This is what skilled workers typically need for construction jobs in Canada:

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to a four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade.
• Some high school, college, or industry courses in relevant field is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Some experience as a general construction laborer may be required for construction trade helpers.
• Some pipeline workers, such as stabbers, mandrel operators, and pre-heater tenders, usually require one season of experience in oil and gas pipeline construction.
• Flagmen/women may require a traffic control certificate.

Construction Jobs in Canada For Non-Residents

Degrees and qualifications

Want to come to Canada and work in construction?

Then having one of the following degrees or qualifications will help you out:

• Masters / MBA holding a Masters or MBA designation is highly favorable for immigration to Canada via economic class programs.
• Degree – favorable qualification level for construction professionals with regard to immigration and employment in Canada.
• Higher Diploma – B. Tech, Higher National Diploma (HND)
• Trade qualification – This may help you get to Canada via the Federal Skilled Trades Program, one of Canada’s permanent residence programs linked with the Express Entry system.

How to apply

If you want to move to Canada as a construction worker, you will need to get:

• Work permit – (for working temporarily)
• Permanent residence (PR) – (for working permanently)

For the work permit, you can apply through:

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• International Mobility Program
• International Experience Canada (IEC) program
• International free trade agreements
• Intra-company transfers

General Eligibility Requirements for Obtaining the Work Permit

• prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires.
• show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay.
• have no record of criminal activity.
• be in good health and have a medical exam.
• not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible”.

For permanent residence (PR), you can apply through:

• Express Entry system
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canada Experience Class Program
• Provincial Nominee Program

General Eligibility Requirements for Express Entry

• Be under 30 years of age.
• Have at least three years of skilled work experience.
• High level of English and/or French.
• Completed post-secondary education that is assessed against Canadian standards with an Educational Credential Assessment.

Which Locations Are Best For Construction Jobs in Canada?

Here are some of the best locations for construction jobs in Canada for foreigners as well as for natives:

1. Toronto

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has lots of major suburbs, including a downtown core that is famous for the CN Tower and a number of skyscrapers in its shadow. The GTA is a huge area of more than 6 million people and represents the largest source of construction jobs in Canada.

2. Vancouver

The Vancouver Lower Mainland area encompasses over 10 cities (municipalities) and has a booming real estate market with a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects.

3. Montreal

Montreal is Quebec’s largest city and Canada’s second-largest. It offers lots of opportunities, but you may need to have knowledge of French if you want to work there.

4. Ottawa

It is the capital city of Canada and offers a great quality of life.

5. Calgary

Calgary is the home of oil and gas in Canada and struggling due to low commodity prices and a lack of pipelines to bring Canada’s oil to world markets.

Related: Construction jobs in Calgary

6. Edmonton

Edmonton is a blue-collar town in Alberta’s construction industry. If you are willing to start a career in the construction sector in Edmonton then check out construction jobs in Edmonton.

7. Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is Canada’s best-kept secret for the construction industry: it leads in residential construction for all of Canada. It is also very strong in the commercial sector. If you are residing in Saskatchewan and want to pursue a career in the construction sector then checkout our latest construction jobs in Saskatchewan.

8. Manitoba

Manitoba has had an excellent construction industry for the past twenty years, with the highest ever recorded numbers in 2006 that have been steadily growing ever since. We have posted new construction jobs in Manitoba that you can check.

Reasons to Make a Career in the Construction Sector

Jobs are available

The demand for skilled workers for different types of construction jobs in Canada has been increasing constantly for more than a decade, even during periods of economic decline. In addition, approximately 260,000 people will be going to retire from this sector over the next 10 years. So, employers will be looking forward to filling these vacated positions with smart and skilled people.

Good Salary

You can find many high-paying construction jobs in Canada.

Because:

The wages of construction workers have been among the fastest to grow in Canada. Based on Statistics Canada data from 1997 to 2017, the median hourly wage, adjusted for inflation, rose 22% in construction, placing it among the top four industries where wages have grown the fastest.

Lifelong Career

You can build a lifelong career working in the construction sector as it can help you to:

• get higher management positions (like a project manager and construction manager)
• advance into established companies
• move into different areas (such as health and safety, training, and engineering)
• start and grow your own business

Traveling

The construction industry provides a lot of traveling opportunities as there are huge construction projects that are centered on resources in Canada. So, you always have a chance to explore different amazing regions of Canada.

The Primus Workforce team is proudly built on hands-on industry knowledge and experience.