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Filling the ranks of Ontario's construction industry

The Ontario construction industry is enjoying a building boom. In 2001, the industry accounted for $11 billion in revenues and the renovation sector generated an additional $8.9 billion throughout the province.

ROSS FATTORI

[ 2002-05-22 ]

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During the first quarter of 2002, new home sales rose a whopping 87% over the same period last year.

Although times are good for the construction industry, there are issues that need to be addressed right away. The largest challenge today is the shortage of skilled workers.

The construction industry is particularly short on framers, bricklayers, drywallers and carpenters.

According to industry experts, this growing shortage of skilled tradespeople is directly attributed to an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the profession.

The construction industry is committed to addressing this issue head-on. The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) is a joint labour, management and government initiative that promotes the advancement of the unionized construction industry in Ontario. The OCS represents the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors in the province.

"While we are able to meet current demands, we anticipate a significant rise in the retirement levels within the ICI sector within the next five years," says Scott J. Macivor, chief executive officer of OCS. "Our organization has been working with labour and management members to raise the profile of the construction industry and to attract new people to the industry."

Mr. Macivor acknowledges that the construction industry in Ontario suffers from an image problem, which is perpetuated at schools and in the home.

Many people view the construction industry as dirty, dangerous and degrading. But these assumptions are inherently false.

"In recent years, we have been very successful in changing the parental perception of the various skilled trades," Macivor says. "Within the construction industry, people enjoy tremendous job fulfillment and they earn an excellent income. It's not uncommon for many unionized tradespeople to be earning six figures."

The OCS recognizes the urgency of attracting a new generation of skilled tradespeople to the various construction professions. It co-sponsors career fairs, seminars and conferences for students, teachers, parents and anyone considering a career change.

More than 8,500 young people attended the Future Building 2001 Career Exhibition at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last November.

Not surprisingly, women comprised nearly 30% of the attendance.

"We have had improved success in attracting more women to the construction trades," Macivor says. "The construction industry is no longer a gender-biased profession."

To assist the growing need for skilled tradespeople, the Life Long Learning Centre in Vaughan offers a range of courses and outreach programs for people who want to learn a profession.

Established in 1992, the Life Long Learning Centre is a 42,000-sq.-ft. educational complex operated by Universal Workers Union Local 183. It is a co-operative venture between management and union.

"Our goal is to highlight the construction industry and to promote the opportunities that exist within this profession," says Lito Romano, program director at the Life Long Learning Centre. "We're also trying to educate young people about the many changes that have taken place within the industry over the past 10 years."

At the Life Long Learning Centre, young people have an opportunity to enrol in various apprenticeship programs and to be working on a job site within eight weeks.

When compared to the three or four years spent in obtaining a college or university degree, and the huge debts incurred along the way, the construction industry is a viable option for young people who want to start working and earning a decent salary after high school.

In the past 10 years, the Ontario construction industry has significantly improved its health and safety record for its 300,000 workers.

Since 1965, the industry's injury frequency and fatality rates have fallen considerably, and between 1965 and 2000, the industry achieved a 75% reduction in all injuries.

Today, the Ontario construction industry boasts the best health and safety record in North America.

"What we're seeing is a critical mass of awareness about workplace health and safety issues," says Doug McVittie, operations manager at the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO).

"Firms realize that it's good for business to have health and safety programs and to seek sustained improvement in these areas. Today, it's normal for companies to have no lost time due to injuries."

The CSAO provides a broad range of services to construction employers, labour unions and trade associations aimed at preventing occupational injury, illness and death in the workplace.

"Although Ontario's construction health and safety record is better than other jurisdictions, there is still room for improvement," says McVittie.

"One fatality is too many. Our goal is to see that every worker returns home every day."