Construction employers struggling with labour shortage
Ontario will introduce legislation to speed up the process for professionals seeking certification in the province as it continues to struggle with labour shortage.
The legislation will cut the waiting time during this process for workers to 30 days or less from the current several months to a year.
“For skilled workers wanting to move to Ontario, getting the required certification to work in our province takes way too long. … It’s unacceptable when we’re competing for the best of the best talent anywhere in the world,” said Premier Doug Ford during a press conference to announce the proposed legislation.
The proposed legislation would cover more than 35 professions and trades, including engineer technicians, vets, teachers, electricians, plumbers and steamfitters.
Previously, WorkSafeNL extended the expiry date for safety training certificates issued for Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry, Mine Rescue and Traffic Control Person Level II to February 28, 2022.
Ford also wants to expedite the process to bring Ukrainians over to Ontario who are currently fleeing from the trouble in their country.
Ford has promised “in-demand jobs and economic opportunities” for those who will come to the province.
Construction employers have had a tough time hiring workers during the pandemic.
In British Columbia, back in 2019, construction employment was expected to increase by 17,000 over the following 10 year, according to a report from Business Intelligence for B.C. In 2021, that projected employment growth nearly quadrupled to 64,900.
An out-dated training system is at least partly to blame for the trade shortage, said Chris Atchison, president of the BC Construction Association, according to the report.
Traditionally, high school students who decide to enter a trade choose their courses in grades 11 and 12 based on that decision. But today, the average apprentice is 28 years old and, many have chosen to switch careers and join a trade in their late 20s, according to the report.
The industry is becoming increasingly reliant on this growing labour pool to fill job vacancies, said Atchison, but these potential employees find upgrading or proving their high school math skills a barrier to the trade.
One roofing company worker died and another was critically injured in a fire incident at a restaurant in Ontario in November 2021.
