Canada’s construction sector poured $155.2 billion into investment in 2022, an 8.7% jump from 2021, while still wrestling with a labour gap that could reach 28,000 at its peak by 2032. From $102.4 billion in GDP contribution to 245,120 housing starts, the boom is clear but the composition, workforce, and safety pressures reveal a more complicated picture.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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 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
- 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
- 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
In 2022 Canada’s construction sector grew strongly, adding jobs and investment while continuing to need workers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Value Statistics20 stats
01
Construction industry GDP contribution was $102.4 billion in 2022, 5.3% of national GDP
02
Total construction investment reached $155.2 billion in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021
03
Residential construction spending was $89.6 billion in 2022, 57.8% of total sector value
04
Non-residential construction value hit $65.8 billion in 2022, growing 9.2% annually
05
Engineering construction segment valued at $42.1 billion in 2022, 27% of non-residential
06
Institutional construction spending was $23.7 billion in 2022, up 12.4%
07
Commercial construction reached $28.9 billion in 2022, driven by retail/office
08
Construction sector revenue grew 7.8% to $450.3 billion in 2021 per IBISWorld
09
Heavy and civil engineering construction GDP was $28.5 billion in 2021
10
Provincial construction GDP: Ontario $45.2B, Quebec $22.1B, BC $18.9B in 2022
11
Construction exports valued at $12.4 billion in 2022, mainly materials/services
12
Sector capital expenditures totaled $18.7 billion in 2022 for machinery/equipment
13
Construction productivity grew 1.2% in 2022, lagging overall economy at 1.8%
14
Value added per worker in construction was $69,200in 2021
15
Residential building construction GDP $52.3 billion in 2022
16
Multi-unit residential starts valued at $34.1 billion in investment 2022
17
Single-family home construction spending $45.2 billion in 2022
18
Industrial construction value $12.5 billion in 2022, up 15%
19
Public sector construction contracts worth $78.4 billion in 2022
20
Private sector construction investment $76.8 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Economic Value Statistics Interpretation
In Canada, the construction industry generated $102.4 billion in GDP in 2022, representing 5.3% of national output, while total construction investment climbed to $155.2 billion, showing strong economic value momentum heading into and through 2022.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics20 stats
01
In 2022, the Canadian construction industry employed 1,482,600 people, representing 7.5% of total national employment
02
Construction sector added 45,200 jobs in Q1 2023, with Ontario leading at 18,900 new positions
03
Women comprised 12.3% of the construction workforce in 2021, up from 10.8% in 2016, totaling 165,400 female workers
04
Average hourly wage for construction trades in Canada was $32.47in 2022, 25% above national average
05
Indigenous workers made up 4.8% of construction employment in 2021, with 68,900 individuals
06
Youth aged 15-24 accounted for 14.2% of construction jobs in 2022, numbering 210,500 workers
07
Construction unemployment rate was 5.8% in December 2022, below the national rate of 5.3%
08
Self-employed construction workers numbered 258,400 in 2021, 17.4% of total sector employment
09
Immigrants held 27.6% of construction jobs in 2021, totaling 389,200 positions
10
Carpenters represented 18.5% of construction trades workforce with 274,000 workers in 2022
11
Electricians numbered 152,300 in construction sector, 10.3% of trades in 2022
12
Plumbers and pipefitters totaled 98,700 workers, facing a shortage of 12,500 in 2023
13
Labourers in construction reached 312,400 in 2022, 21.1% of total employment
14
Supervisors in construction/manufacturing numbered 89,200 in 2021
15
Apprentices in construction trades increased by 15.4% to 112,600 in 2022
16
Older workers (55+) comprised 24.7% of construction workforce in 2021, 346,800 individuals
17
Construction employment in Quebec was 295,400 in 2022, 20% of national total
18
British Columbia construction jobs hit 240,100 in 2022, up 4.2% year-over-year
19
Alberta saw 198,500 construction workers in 2022 despite oil slowdown
20
Ontario construction employment peaked at 562,300 in Q4 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Employment in Canada’s construction sector totaled 1,482,600 workers in 2022 and, alongside recent growth of 45,200 jobs in Q1 2023, the workforce is slowly diversifying as women rose to 12.3% and Indigenous workers reached 4.8% in 2021.
03 · Category
Future Projections And Trends20 stats
01
Construction output projected to grow 3.2% annually to 2032, reaching $210B investment
02
Labour demand: 319,000 additional workers needed by 2032, shortage of 28,000 peak
03
Residential starts forecast: 240,000 units average 2023-2032
04
Non-residential growth 2.8% per year to 2032, institutional leading at 3.5%
05
Infrastructure spending to hit $180B annually by 2028 under Investing in Canada Plan
06
Net-zero buildings: 20% of new construction by 2030 target
07
Prefab/modular construction to reach 15% market share by 2030, from 5% now
08
Digital tech adoption: BIM use to 75% of projects by 2025
09
Labour productivity growth forecast 1.5% annually 2023-2030
10
EV charging infrastructure: 50,000 stations by 2029 construction boom
11
Housing supply gap: 3.5M units needed by 2030, driving construction
12
Industrial warehouse demand: 500M sq ft new space 2023-2032
13
Data centre construction: 2 GW capacity additions by 2027
14
Transit projects: 50 major initiatives to 2030, $100B value
15
Retrofitting existing buildings: $50B market by 2030 for energy efficiency
16
Skilled trades shortage peaks at 60,000 in 2028, easing to 10,000 by 2032
17
Green construction materials use to 40% by 2030
18
Automation/robotics in construction: 25% productivity boost by 2030
19
Urbanization drives 70% construction growth in CMAs by 2032
20
Climate-resilient infrastructure investments: $15B annually post-2025
Interpretation
Future Projections And Trends Interpretation
Canada’s construction future is set to expand steadily, with output projected to grow 3.2% annually to 2032 and infrastructure spending rising to $180B per year by 2028, while a major workforce gap of 319,000 additional workers and the push for net zero buildings will shape what projects get built.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety And Health Statistics20 stats
01
Fatalities in construction totaled 106 in 2021, rate of 7.2 per 100,000 workers
02
Lost-time injuries in construction: 28,400 cases in 2021, frequency rate 1.95 per 100 workers
03
Falls from heights caused 42% of construction fatalities 2017-2021 average
04
Struck by object incidents: 22% of lost-time claims in Ontario construction 2022
05
Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 35% of construction injury claims in 2021
06
Heat-related illnesses in construction rose 18% in 2022 summer, 1,200 cases reported
07
Safety training completion rate: 87% of workers certified in 2022 per CCA survey
08
Construction firms with safety programs: 92% in 2021, up from 85% in 2016
09
Quebec construction injury rate 1.8 per 100 workers in 2022, lowest provincially
10
BC construction lost-time rate 1.2 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022
11
Alberta construction fatalities 18 in 2022, down 25% from 2021
12
Ontario WSIB claims: 42,500 in construction 2022, cost $450M
13
PPE non-compliance led to 15% of citations in federal construction inspections 2022
14
Crane-related incidents: 45 reported in 2022, 8 fatal
15
Mental health claims in construction up 22% to 3,200 in 2022
16
COVID-19 absences in construction: 5.2% workforce average in 2022
17
Silica exposure violations: 320 in construction inspections 2022
18
Trench collapse fatalities: 5 in 2021-2022, prompting new regs
19
Hearing loss claims: 1,800 in construction 2021, rate 12 per 10,000
20
Highway work zone crashes involving construction: 2,450 in 2022, 45 fatal
Interpretation
Safety And Health Statistics Interpretation
In Canada’s construction safety and health landscape, 2021 saw 106 fatalities and 28,400 lost-time injuries, while the leading causes stand out with falls from heights driving 42% of fatalities over 2017 to 2021 and musculoskeletal disorders making up 35% of injury claims, alongside a sharp seasonal rise in heat-related illnesses that climbed 18% in the 2022 summer.
05 · Category
Sector Specific Statistics18 stats
01
Housing starts totaled 245,120 units in 2022, highest since 1974
02
Multi-family starts reached 143,500 units in 2022, 58.6% of total
03
Single-detached starts were 101,600 units in 2022, down 2% from 2021
04
Toronto CMA saw 68,300 housing starts in 2022, 28% of national total
05
Vancouver residential construction 32,100 units started in 2022
06
Montreal had 24,800 starts in 2022, focused on rentals
07
Non-residential building permits issued for $28.5 billion in 2022
08
Institutional sector permits $12.3 billion in 2022, up 22%
09
Commercial permits totaled $15.2 billion in 2022, led by offices/warehouses
10
Industrial building construction under construction value $18.9 billion mid-2022
11
Highway and street construction contracts 45% of engineering work in 2022
12
Oil and gas pipeline construction valued at $4.2 billion in 2022
13
Renewable energy projects: 15 GW under construction in 2023
14
Bridge construction: 1,200 projects active in 2022, total value $3.8B
15
Water supply/sewage projects: 850 initiatives worth $5.6B in 2022
16
Calgary commercial floor space under construction 12.5M sq ft in 2022
17
Edmonton industrial space completions 4.2M sq ft in 2022
18
Ottawa institutional projects 2.8M sq ft started in 2022
Interpretation
Sector Specific Statistics Interpretation
In the sector-specific snapshot for Canada’s construction industry, 2022 housing starts climbed to 245,120 units, the highest level since 1974, with multi-family starts totaling 143,500 units or 58.6% of the mix.
report visual · Breakdown
Canada Construction Growth Snapshot (2022)
Construction investment expanded, with residential spending forming the largest share.
57.8%
Residential construction spending was $89.6 billion in 2022, 57.8% of total sector value
42%
Falls from heights caused 42% of construction fatalities 2017-2021 average
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Canada Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Canada Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canada-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Canada Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report
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