While Toronto's skyline is a testament to its booming construction industry, the reality on the ground is a complex story of high wages, historic labor shortages, and a race to build the city's future, as 256,700 workers—12.5% of the city's total employment—drive a sector that contributed $28.5 billion to the local economy in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Toronto's construction industry employed 256,700 workers, accounting for 12.5% of the city's total employment
- The average hourly wage for construction workers in Toronto was $32.45 in 2022, up 5.2% from 2021
- Women represented 10.8% of the construction workforce in Toronto in 2021
- Total value of residential construction starts in Toronto was $15.6 billion in 2022
- Non-residential construction investment in Toronto reached $12.4 billion in 2022
- 1,250 new high-rise condo projects were under construction in Toronto in 2023
- Total construction GDP contribution in Toronto was $28.5 billion in 2022
- Construction sector grew 4.8% year-over-year in Toronto 2022
- Average project cost inflation 7.2% in Toronto construction 2022
- Lost workdays due to incidents totaled 12,500 in Toronto construction 2022
- Fatality rate 8.2 per 100,000 workers in construction 2022
- Fall from height incidents 1,450 reported in Toronto 2022
- 156,200 building permits issued in Toronto in 2022 valued at $25.4 billion total
- Residential permits numbered 42,500 with $18.2 billion value in 2022
- Commercial permits 12,300 issued valued $4.1 billion 2022
Toronto’s construction industry is robust, employing many with rising wages and major projects underway.
Building Permits and Approvals
1156,200 building permits issued in Toronto in 2022 valued at $25.4 billion total
Verified2Residential permits numbered 42,500 with $18.2 billion value in 2022
Verified3Commercial permits 12,300 issued valued $4.1 billion 2022
Verified4Average permit processing time 45 days for major projects 2022
Directional58,200 renovation permits issued $2.9 billion value 2022
Single source6High-rise permit applications 1,120 approved in 2022
Verified7Demolition permits 2,450 issued in Toronto 2022
Verified8Heritage alteration permits 340 processed 2022
Verified9Sign permits 5,600 issued for construction sites 2022
Directional10Plumbing permits 28,000 with $450 million value 2022
Single source11Zoning by-law amendments 210 approved for projects 2022
Verified12Site plan approvals 890 for new developments 2022
Verified13Electrical permits 35,200 issued 2022
Verified14HVAC permits 14,500 valued $320 million 2022
Directional15Permit rejection rate 6.2% due to code violations 2022
Single source16Online permit applications 78% of total in 2022
Verified17Minor variance applications 4,200 approved 2022
Verified18Sewage system permits 1,100 for construction 2022
Verified19Temporary use by-laws 320 granted 2022
Directional20Deck and porch permits 9,800 issued residential 2022
Single source21Committee of Adjustment hearings 2,500 held 2022
Verified22Fire safety plan approvals 1,450 for sites 2022
Verified23Occupancy certificates issued 3,200 post-construction 2022
Verified24Permit fee revenue $145 million collected 2022
Directional25Rezoning applications 450 processed 2022
Single source26Energy efficiency compliance 95% for new permits 2022
Verified27Fence permits 7,900 issued 2022
Verified28Pool enclosure permits 1,200 approved 2022
Verified29Official Plan amendments 45 tied to permits 2022
DirectionalBuilding Permits and Approvals Interpretation
Toronto managed to issue a staggering 156,200 building permits—from high-rises to backyard decks—proving that the city’s official architectural ambition isn’t just to be a metropolis, but a 3D jigsaw puzzle under perpetual, $25.4 billion construction.
Construction Projects
1Total value of residential construction starts in Toronto was $15.6 billion in 2022
Verified2Non-residential construction investment in Toronto reached $12.4 billion in 2022
Verified31,250 new high-rise condo projects were under construction in Toronto in 2023
Verified4Infrastructure projects valued at $8.7 billion were active in Toronto in 2022
Directional545,600 housing units started in Toronto in 2022
Single source6GTA had 78,000 condo units under construction as of Q1 2023
Verified7Major transit projects like Ontario Line valued at $10.5 billion ongoing
Verified8Industrial construction square footage added 15.2 million sq ft in Toronto 2022
Verified9320 new office towers planned in Toronto with 20 million sq ft
Directional10Renovation projects totaled $4.2 billion in Toronto residential in 2022
Single source1112 green building projects certified LEED Gold in Toronto 2022
Verified12Hospital expansions in Toronto construction valued $2.1 billion in 2022
Verified135,800 affordable housing units under construction in Toronto 2023
Verified14Data center builds added 1.2 million sq ft in GTA 2022
Directional15School construction projects 18 active with $900 million value
Single source16Retail space completions 2.1 million sq ft in Toronto 2022
Verified17Net zero energy projects numbered 45 in Toronto pipeline 2023
Verified18Highway expansions like 401 valued $1.8 billion ongoing
Verified19Multi-family starts increased 22% to 38,000 units in 2022
Directional20Hotel construction pipeline 15 projects 3,200 rooms
Single source21Park and recreation builds $450 million in Toronto 2022
Verified22Senior living facilities 12 projects under construction 1,800 units
Verified23Total construction put-in-place $42.3 billion in Toronto 2022
Verified24Student housing starts 2,500 beds in Toronto 2022
Directional25Watermain replacements 120 km completed in Toronto 2022
Single sourceConstruction Projects Interpretation
While Toronto furiously stacks its vertical dreams and horizontal ambitions, with over $42 billion literally poured into the ground and thrust into the sky, the city appears to be building everything except a consensus on how to actually afford living in it.
Economic and Financial
1Total construction GDP contribution in Toronto was $28.5 billion in 2022
Verified2Construction sector grew 4.8% year-over-year in Toronto 2022
Verified3Average project cost inflation 7.2% in Toronto construction 2022
Verified41,850 construction firms operated in Toronto with average revenue $15.4M
Directional5Material costs rose 12% for steel in Toronto projects 2022
Single source6Sector multiplier effect generated $1.75 in economic activity per $1 spent
Verified7Tax revenue from construction $3.2 billion to City of Toronto 2022
Verified8Profit margins averaged 4.1% for Toronto contractors 2022
Verified9Investment in construction capital $35.7 billion in GTA 2022
Directional10Productivity growth 1.2% in Toronto construction 2022
Single source11Bond market financing for projects $6.8 billion issued 2022
Verified12Insurance premiums for construction averaged $2.50 per $1000 value
Verified13Export of construction services $450 million from Toronto firms 2022
Verified14Venture capital invested $120 million in Toronto construction tech 2022
Directional15Cost per square foot for high-rise $450 in Toronto 2023
Single source16Government subsidies $1.1 billion for Toronto housing builds 2022
Verified17Bankruptcy rate for construction firms 2.8% in Toronto 2022
Verified18ESG investment in projects $2.3 billion premium paid 2022
Verified19Fuel costs impact 8% of operating expenses in 2022
Directional20Digital tool adoption saved 6% on project costs average
Single source21Supply chain delays added 4.5% to timelines and costs 2022
Verified22Revenue growth 5.9% for top 100 Toronto contractors 2022
Verified23Carbon pricing added $150M to project costs in 2022
Verified24Private investment share 68% of total construction spending
Directional25Labour costs 42% of total project expenses in Toronto 2022
Single sourceEconomic and Financial Interpretation
Despite galloping ahead at 4.8%, Toronto's construction sector is running a precarious treadmill where a 7.2% inflation rate and soaring steel prices devour the meager 4.1% profits of its 1,850 firms, yet these gritty builders still manage to be the city's financial engine, generating $1.75 in economic activity for every dollar spent while contributing a vital $3.2 billion in tax revenue.
Health and Safety
1Lost workdays due to incidents totaled 12,500 in Toronto construction 2022
Verified2Fatality rate 8.2 per 100,000 workers in construction 2022
Verified3Fall from height incidents 1,450 reported in Toronto 2022
Verified4WSIB claims for construction $285 million paid out 2022
Directional5Heat-related illnesses up 15% to 320 cases in summer 2022
Single source6Crane incidents 22 reported in GTA construction sites 2022
Verified792% compliance rate for safety inspections in Toronto 2022
Verified8Musculoskeletal injuries 4,200 claims from construction 2022
Verified9Safety training hours totaled 2.1 million across sites 2022
Directional10Silica exposure violations 156 in Toronto inspections 2022
Single source11Mental health incidents reported 850 in construction workforce
Verified12PPE non-compliance fines $1.2 million issued 2022
Verified13Trench collapse incidents 14 with 3 fatalities 2022
Verified14COVID-19 cases on sites 2,450 confirmed 2022
Directional15Noise-induced hearing loss claims 210 in 2022
Single source16Safety certification rate 87% for workers in Toronto
Verified17Electrical shock incidents 89 reported 2022
Verified18Fatigue-related accidents 340 in 12-hour shift sites
Verified19Asbestos abatement incidents 45 violations 2022
Directional20Vehicle-pedestrian incidents on sites 210
Single source21Safety budget allocation averaged 3.2% of project costs
Verified22Return-to-work rate 92% within 6 months post-injury
Verified23High-risk site audits 1,250 conducted by MOL 2022
Verified24Respiratory protection failures 76 cases 2022
Directional25Suicide prevention programs reached 15,000 workers
Single source26Ladder fall incidents 620 reported 2022
Verified27Ergonomic training reduced injuries by 11% in participating firms
VerifiedHealth and Safety Interpretation
This year's grim statistics reveal Toronto's construction industry is simultaneously building skyward and digging its own grave, as even a near-perfect safety compliance rate of 92% is betrayed by thousands of injuries and a stubborn human toll that proves no amount of training or fines can yet build a foolproof scaffold between a worker and catastrophe.
Labor and Employment
1In 2022, Toronto's construction industry employed 256,700 workers, accounting for 12.5% of the city's total employment
Verified2The average hourly wage for construction workers in Toronto was $32.45 in 2022, up 5.2% from 2021
Verified3Women represented 10.8% of the construction workforce in Toronto in 2021
Verified4There were 45,200 apprentices in Ontario's construction trades in 2022, with Toronto accounting for 38% of them
Directional5Construction unemployment rate in Toronto stood at 6.1% in Q4 2022
Single source615,300 new construction jobs were added in Toronto in 2022
Verified7Indigenous workers made up 2.3% of Toronto's construction labor force in 2021
Verified8The sector had a labor shortage of 12,500 skilled trades workers in Toronto as of 2023 forecast
Verified9Average age of construction workers in Toronto was 42.7 years in 2021
Directional1028% of Toronto construction firms reported difficulty hiring in 2022
Single source11Unionized workers comprised 55% of Toronto's construction workforce in 2022
Verified12Youth (15-24) employment in construction grew by 8% in Toronto in 2022
Verified13Immigrants filled 42% of new construction jobs in Toronto in 2021
Verified14Turnover rate in Toronto construction was 14.2% in 2022
Directional153,200 workers completed Red Seal certification in Toronto construction trades in 2022
Single source16Part-time workers in Toronto construction increased to 7.5% in 2022
Verified17Self-employed construction workers numbered 18,900 in Toronto in 2021
Verified18Overtime hours averaged 4.2 per week for Toronto construction workers in 2022
Verified19Visible minorities represented 52% of Toronto's construction workforce in 2021
Directional20Training investment per worker in Toronto construction was $1,250 in 2022
Single source21Persons with disabilities comprised 4.1% of the workforce in 2021
Verified22Job vacancies in construction reached 9,800 in Toronto Q3 2023
Verified23Productivity per worker in Toronto construction was $145,000 in 2022
Verified24Female apprentices grew 12% in Toronto in 2022
Directional25Seasonal employment peaked at 78% in summer months for Toronto construction
Single source26Remote work adoption in construction admin roles was 15% in Toronto 2022
Verified27Mental health leave days averaged 5.3 per worker in 2022
Verified28Gig economy workers in construction numbered 4,500 in Toronto 2022
Verified29Retirement rate projected at 7% annually for Toronto construction workforce 2023-2032
DirectionalLabor and Employment Interpretation
Toronto's construction industry is a paradox of robust growth and glaring vulnerabilities, where one in eight workers builds the city yet the sector is simultaneously propped up by immigrants, plagued by a shortage of skilled hands, and nervously eyeing the retirement of an aging workforce.
Market Trends and Forecasts
1Construction market forecast predicts 3.5% growth in Toronto for 2023-2025
Verified2Housing starts expected to decline 10% to 40,000 units in 2023
Verified3Non-residential growth projected at 4.2% annually to 2027
Verified4Labour demand forecast 25,000 additional workers by 2032
Directional5Cost escalation expected 5-7% per year through 2025
Single source6Industrial sector vacancy to fall to 2.5% by 2025
Verified7Office construction completions peak 2024 at 4M sq ft
Verified8Green construction to comprise 40% of projects by 2027
Verified9Prefab modular adoption to rise 25% by 2025
Directional10Digital twin tech use to triple to 30% of large projects by 2025
Single source11Infrastructure spending $20B annually projected to 2030
Verified12Retrofit market $5B opportunity in Toronto by 2025
Verified13Data centre demand to add 10M sq ft by 2027
Verified14Affordable housing pipeline 50,000 units by 2030
Directional15BIM adoption 75% by 2025 forecast
Single source16Supply chain resilience investments up 20% annually
Verified17Net-zero retrofits 15% of renovation market by 2025
Verified18Drone usage in inspections to 50% of sites by 2025
Verified19AI optimization tools 40% adoption in scheduling by 2026
Directional20Transit-oriented development projects 30 new by 2030
Single source21Material recycling rates to 70% by 2027
VerifiedMarket Trends and Forecasts Interpretation
Toronto is trying to build its way into a sophisticated, green-tech future while simultaneously begging for 25,000 new workers, grappling with soaring costs, and promising a skyline where empty offices cozy up next to a critical shortage of places for people to actually live.
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