From the high-rise scaffolding of Toronto to the pipelines of Alberta, Canada's construction industry is building the nation's future while employing 1.5 million people, adding billions to the GDP, and navigating a pivotal era of labour shortages, safety challenges, and green transformation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Canadian construction industry employed 1,482,600 people, representing 7.5% of total national employment
- Construction sector added 45,200 jobs in Q1 2023, with Ontario leading at 18,900 new positions
- Women comprised 12.3% of the construction workforce in 2021, up from 10.8% in 2016, totaling 165,400 female workers
- Construction industry GDP contribution was $102.4 billion in 2022, 5.3% of national GDP
- Total construction investment reached $155.2 billion in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021
- Residential construction spending was $89.6 billion in 2022, 57.8% of total sector value
- Housing starts totaled 245,120 units in 2022, highest since 1974
- Multi-family starts reached 143,500 units in 2022, 58.6% of total
- Single-detached starts were 101,600 units in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Fatalities in construction totaled 106 in 2021, rate of 7.2 per 100,000 workers
- Lost-time injuries in construction: 28,400 cases in 2021, frequency rate 1.95 per 100 workers
- Falls from heights caused 42% of construction fatalities 2017-2021 average
- Construction output projected to grow 3.2% annually to 2032, reaching $210B investment
- Labour demand: 319,000 additional workers needed by 2032, shortage of 28,000 peak
- Residential starts forecast: 240,000 units average 2023-2032
Canada's construction industry is booming with strong job growth and widespread labor demand.
Economic Value Statistics
1Construction industry GDP contribution was $102.4 billion in 2022, 5.3% of national GDP
Verified2Total construction investment reached $155.2 billion in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021
Verified3Residential construction spending was $89.6 billion in 2022, 57.8% of total sector value
Verified4Non-residential construction value hit $65.8 billion in 2022, growing 9.2% annually
Directional5Engineering construction segment valued at $42.1 billion in 2022, 27% of non-residential
Single source6Institutional construction spending was $23.7 billion in 2022, up 12.4%
Verified7Commercial construction reached $28.9 billion in 2022, driven by retail/office
Verified8Construction sector revenue grew 7.8% to $450.3 billion in 2021 per IBISWorld
Verified9Heavy and civil engineering construction GDP was $28.5 billion in 2021
Directional10Provincial construction GDP: Ontario $45.2B, Quebec $22.1B, BC $18.9B in 2022
Single source11Construction exports valued at $12.4 billion in 2022, mainly materials/services
Verified12Sector capital expenditures totaled $18.7 billion in 2022 for machinery/equipment
Verified13Construction productivity grew 1.2% in 2022, lagging overall economy at 1.8%
Verified14Value added per worker in construction was $69,200 in 2021
Directional15Residential building construction GDP $52.3 billion in 2022
Single source16Multi-unit residential starts valued at $34.1 billion in investment 2022
Verified17Single-family home construction spending $45.2 billion in 2022
Verified18Industrial construction value $12.5 billion in 2022, up 15%
Verified19Public sector construction contracts worth $78.4 billion in 2022
Directional20Private sector construction investment $76.8 billion in 2022
Single sourceEconomic Value Statistics Interpretation
While Canada's construction sector is clearly building more than just houses—contributing over a hundred billion to GDP and investing heavily in everything from hospitals to highways—its modest productivity gains suggest the industry is still figuring out how to work smarter, not just harder.
Employment Statistics
1In 2022, the Canadian construction industry employed 1,482,600 people, representing 7.5% of total national employment
Verified2Construction sector added 45,200 jobs in Q1 2023, with Ontario leading at 18,900 new positions
Verified3Women comprised 12.3% of the construction workforce in 2021, up from 10.8% in 2016, totaling 165,400 female workers
Verified4Average hourly wage for construction trades in Canada was $32.47 in 2022, 25% above national average
Directional5Indigenous workers made up 4.8% of construction employment in 2021, with 68,900 individuals
Single source6Youth aged 15-24 accounted for 14.2% of construction jobs in 2022, numbering 210,500 workers
Verified7Construction unemployment rate was 5.8% in December 2022, below the national rate of 5.3%
Verified8Self-employed construction workers numbered 258,400 in 2021, 17.4% of total sector employment
Verified9Immigrants held 27.6% of construction jobs in 2021, totaling 389,200 positions
Directional10Carpenters represented 18.5% of construction trades workforce with 274,000 workers in 2022
Single source11Electricians numbered 152,300 in construction sector, 10.3% of trades in 2022
Verified12Plumbers and pipefitters totaled 98,700 workers, facing a shortage of 12,500 in 2023
Verified13Labourers in construction reached 312,400 in 2022, 21.1% of total employment
Verified14Supervisors in construction/manufacturing numbered 89,200 in 2021
Directional15Apprentices in construction trades increased by 15.4% to 112,600 in 2022
Single source16Older workers (55+) comprised 24.7% of construction workforce in 2021, 346,800 individuals
Verified17Construction employment in Quebec was 295,400 in 2022, 20% of national total
Verified18British Columbia construction jobs hit 240,100 in 2022, up 4.2% year-over-year
Verified19Alberta saw 198,500 construction workers in 2022 despite oil slowdown
Directional20Ontario construction employment peaked at 562,300 in Q4 2022
Single sourceEmployment Statistics Interpretation
While the Canadian construction industry continues to build the nation with strong, diverse, and well-compensated hands, the stats reveal we’re still laying a foundation of inclusion that needs much more concrete progress.
Future Projections and Trends
1Construction output projected to grow 3.2% annually to 2032, reaching $210B investment
Verified2Labour demand: 319,000 additional workers needed by 2032, shortage of 28,000 peak
Verified3Residential starts forecast: 240,000 units average 2023-2032
Verified4Non-residential growth 2.8% per year to 2032, institutional leading at 3.5%
Directional5Infrastructure spending to hit $180B annually by 2028 under Investing in Canada Plan
Single source6Net-zero buildings: 20% of new construction by 2030 target
Verified7Prefab/modular construction to reach 15% market share by 2030, from 5% now
Verified8Digital tech adoption: BIM use to 75% of projects by 2025
Verified9Labour productivity growth forecast 1.5% annually 2023-2030
Directional10EV charging infrastructure: 50,000 stations by 2029 construction boom
Single source11Housing supply gap: 3.5M units needed by 2030, driving construction
Verified12Industrial warehouse demand: 500M sq ft new space 2023-2032
Verified13Data centre construction: 2 GW capacity additions by 2027
Verified14Transit projects: 50 major initiatives to 2030, $100B value
Directional15Retrofitting existing buildings: $50B market by 2030 for energy efficiency
Single source16Skilled trades shortage peaks at 60,000 in 2028, easing to 10,000 by 2032
Verified17Green construction materials use to 40% by 2030
Verified18Automation/robotics in construction: 25% productivity boost by 2030
Verified19Urbanization drives 70% construction growth in CMAs by 2032
Directional20Climate-resilient infrastructure investments: $15B annually post-2025
Single sourceFuture Projections and Trends Interpretation
The industry’s blueprint for the future reveals an ambitious, almost paradoxical, sprint to build a greener, smarter Canada while simultaneously trying to find enough hands to hold the hammers and hoping the robots arrive before the entire plan falls into a supply-and-demand shaped hole.
Safety and Health Statistics
1Fatalities in construction totaled 106 in 2021, rate of 7.2 per 100,000 workers
Verified2Lost-time injuries in construction: 28,400 cases in 2021, frequency rate 1.95 per 100 workers
Verified3Falls from heights caused 42% of construction fatalities 2017-2021 average
Verified4Struck by object incidents: 22% of lost-time claims in Ontario construction 2022
Directional5Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 35% of construction injury claims in 2021
Single source6Heat-related illnesses in construction rose 18% in 2022 summer, 1,200 cases reported
Verified7Safety training completion rate: 87% of workers certified in 2022 per CCA survey
Verified8Construction firms with safety programs: 92% in 2021, up from 85% in 2016
Verified9Quebec construction injury rate 1.8 per 100 workers in 2022, lowest provincially
Directional10BC construction lost-time rate 1.2 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022
Single source11Alberta construction fatalities 18 in 2022, down 25% from 2021
Verified12Ontario WSIB claims: 42,500 in construction 2022, cost $450M
Verified13PPE non-compliance led to 15% of citations in federal construction inspections 2022
Verified14Crane-related incidents: 45 reported in 2022, 8 fatal
Directional15Mental health claims in construction up 22% to 3,200 in 2022
Single source16COVID-19 absences in construction: 5.2% workforce average in 2022
Verified17Silica exposure violations: 320 in construction inspections 2022
Verified18Trench collapse fatalities: 5 in 2021-2022, prompting new regs
Verified19Hearing loss claims: 1,800 in construction 2021, rate 12 per 10,000
Directional20Highway work zone crashes involving construction: 2,450 in 2022, 45 fatal
Single sourceSafety and Health Statistics Interpretation
While our hard hats are now firmly on and safety programs nearly universal, the sobering reality is that we're still losing over a hundred colleagues a year to largely preventable tragedies like falls and struck-by incidents, even as new threats like heat stress and mental health crises rise through the scaffolding.
Sector-Specific Statistics
1Housing starts totaled 245,120 units in 2022, highest since 1974
Verified2Multi-family starts reached 143,500 units in 2022, 58.6% of total
Verified3Single-detached starts were 101,600 units in 2022, down 2% from 2021
Verified4Toronto CMA saw 68,300 housing starts in 2022, 28% of national total
Directional5Vancouver residential construction 32,100 units started in 2022
Single source6Montreal had 24,800 starts in 2022, focused on rentals
Verified7Non-residential building permits issued for $28.5 billion in 2022
Verified8Institutional sector permits $12.3 billion in 2022, up 22%
Verified9Commercial permits totaled $15.2 billion in 2022, led by offices/warehouses
Directional10Industrial building construction under construction value $18.9 billion mid-2022
Single source11Highway and street construction contracts 45% of engineering work in 2022
Verified12Oil and gas pipeline construction valued at $4.2 billion in 2022
Verified13Renewable energy projects: 15 GW under construction in 2023
Verified14Bridge construction: 1,200 projects active in 2022, total value $3.8B
Directional15Water supply/sewage projects: 850 initiatives worth $5.6B in 2022
Single source16Calgary commercial floor space under construction 12.5M sq ft in 2022
Verified17Edmonton industrial space completions 4.2M sq ft in 2022
Verified18Ottawa institutional projects 2.8M sq ft started in 2022
VerifiedSector-Specific Statistics Interpretation
Canada’s construction industry is building everything from a record number of new homes to power our future and pave our commutes, proving the national hobby is no longer hockey but rather a frenzied, multi-billion dollar game of SimCity.
Sources & References
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