Canada’s construction sector stands at a critical crossroads. With ambitious government plans for infrastructure and housing projects, demand for skilled tradespeople has never been higher. Yet, a severe labor shortage, with over 93,000 open jobs across the country, is preventing the industry from reaching its full potential.
The statistics paint a clear picture of the challenges facing the Canadian construction industry. A significant portion of the workforce is nearing retirement, and the number of registered apprentices has dropped by 15% over the past decade. This is leading to a disconnect between competitive wages and the willingness of younger workers to enter the trades, leaving thousands of well-paying positions vacant.
Our guide addresses the key dynamics of this market:
- A looming retirement crisis: The industry is grappling with a retirement wave, with 20% of its workforce set to retire in the next decade.
- Persistent labor shortages: With a record-high number of unfilled positions, construction companies must find innovative ways to attract talent.
- High demand for skilled talent: The public infrastructure sector is expected to dominate construction output over the next five years, creating a strong demand for skilled tradespeople in projects related to transportation, clean technology, and utilities.
prepare to uncover
- how to attract top talent in a competitive Canadian labor market
- how will the current compensation trends shape your hiring strategy?
- what impact do local salary trends have on today’s construction workers?
Our 2026 construction salary guide is the essential resource for navigating these challenges, providing the data and strategies you need to build a resilient and effective workforce.
what you'll uncover in our 2026 construction salary guide
Our comprehensive guide compiles data from a wide range of construction specialties to give you a detailed view of the evolving Canadian market. Inside, you will find:
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in-demand job market data
Get a granular look at national and regional salary averages for the most sought-after roles, including:
- civil project engineer
- electrical engineer
- estimator
- field service manager
- operations manager
- project engineer
- safety inspector
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analysis and trends for the year ahead
Beyond the numbers, our guide provides strategic insights into the factors that will drive hiring and retention in 2026.
- Digital transformation: The guide explores how technologies like AI, drones, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are becoming essential for driving productivity and safety on job sites. It provides insights on how to build a team with the skills to leverage these tools.
- Sustainability and green building: The guide explores how contractors are adapting to meet higher energy efficiency standards and adopting cleaner technologies. With an increase in public demand for eco-friendly buildings, professionals with these skills are becoming more valuable than ever.
- Expanding the talent pool: With women representing only 7% of apprentices, the guide explores how a focus on diversity and inclusion can help companies expand their talent pool and access a vital, underutilized source of construction labor.
Our guide features contributions from industry experts, offering a comprehensive view of the current and future landscape of construction compensation in Canada. By understanding these trends, you can build a resilient team and secure your talent pipeline for the years to come.
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