| Work Detail |
Canada’s construction industry will need to recruit 300,000 workers over the next 10 years. In front of an audience at the Canadian Club of Montreal, Pomerleau CEO Philippe Adam and Audrey Murray, CEO of the Commission de la construction du Québec, discussed a number of possible solutions.
Faced with major societal challenges that will require a series of major construction projects, Adam stated that Pomerleau is launching an appeal for mobilization to tackle the biggest undertaking of our time. Adam said this “project of the century” will be needed to meet a wide range of needs in different sectors: energy and climate transition, rising housing needs, healthcare, education and transportation. In addition to carrying out these major projects, companies will be faced with the already significant challenge of construction labour shortages.
During the summer of 2024, Pomerleau conducted a major opinion survey, in conjunction with Léger, to gain a better understanding of the general public’s perceptions of the construction industry.
Several findings emerged from the survey:
90% of respondents believe that construction is essential to economic development.
74% of respondents believe you need to be physically strong to work in construction.
64% of respondents think it’s still hard for women to work in construction.
56% of respondents would recommend working in the construction industry to their children or relatives.
55% of respondents believe the construction sector offers attractive prospects to young people.
“We need to make sure construction trades become attractive career choices for as many people as possible,” said Adam. “We need to restore the construction industry to its former glory. We have a responsibility to help people discover its most attractive features. Construction is an industry made up of passionate people who are determined to make a positive difference in the lives of communities. At the end of the day, society needs modern infrastructure such as housing, hospitals, schools and sustainable modes of transportation.”
He also discussed some initiatives implemented by Pomerleau and others they are planning, including:
Already implemented:
PX3 – a state-of-the-art training centre
An internship program to gain hands-on experience on worksites that is unique in Canada
Incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles ($2,000 from Pomerleau) and a generous referral program
International recruitment missions
Défi sportif – bringing together nearly 1,000 employees from across the country, so they can raise funds for causes close to their hearts and also train with private coaches
A program offering share ownership to all employees
To be implemented in 2025:
A partnership with the Commission de la construction du Québec to launch campaigns promoting trades and raising awareness of healthy workplaces
Have more than 30 per cent of donations and sponsorships dedicated to initiatives aimed at increasing the number of women, young people and Indigenous communities in the industry, such as: Academos, The Atlantic Engineering Competition, Dalhousie Women in Engineering Society, a support Fund for the Groupe Génie au féminin de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Skills Ontario and Women’s Infrastructure Network. |
