The Residential Construction Council of Central Ontario is an organization of residential builders. Their members come primarily from Central and Southern Ontario.
What Does Rescon Do?
Rescon's mandate includes:
- Promoting innovation in construction materials and methods
- Removing barriers to new construction
- Eliminating unnecessary costs
- Conducting research into residential labour market issues affecting the construction sector/membership
- Maintaining safety, quality and competitiveness in the construction sector
Events/Publications/Newsletters
Your best source of information about upcoming events that Rescon sponsors or participates in is their website: http://rescon.ws/ The website also contains excellent links to general construction, government, Construction Association, Labour and Employment Law websites.
Rescon publishes Newsletters that focus on issues of interest to their membership and for the general public seeking construction sector information. Information contained in the Newsletters is wide ranging and includes:
- The impact of 9/11 on construction insurance
- Chronic labour shortages outlined by the C.D. Howe Institute
- Demographic impact of baby boomer retirement on housing/labour supply
General Labour Market Trends in Construction
The Canadian economy has made an excellent recovery from the economic slow down of the early 1990's, and has continued without major interruption for over seven years. Construction activity, according to a Residential Construction and Labour Market Report commissioned by Rescon, is reaching record levels. Steady growth in the renovation sector now represents over half of residential construction activity. Growth in Ontario is the strongest in Canada, with strong employment gains concentrated in full time jobs.
Labour market indicators and reports from many industries - not just construction - suggest that shortages are emerging. Although rising work force participation may have increased work force numbers, demand has exceeded the pace of new entrants and unemployment is at its lowest level in many years.
Construction Sector - Significant Trends
Activity in the construction sector falls into three major categories:
- New Residential - housing
- Commercial Construction - institutions, offices and commercial buildings
- Repair and Renovation - to existing residences
New Residential construction activity has been strong right across Canada. Housing starts in Toronto and area have increased significantly in recent years as the economy and the job scene have improved. Greater numbers of young people aged 15-24 and 25-34 will mean stronger demand for rental housing and increased numbers of first-time home buyers. The aging baby boom generation will lead to greater demand for housing targeted to empty nesters and seniors, such as condo/townhouse and apartment units. According to a recent Globe & Mail article (March 2, 2005), three in ten Canadians plan to buy a house in the next two years, the most since 1997 according to a Royal Bank of Canada survey. The greatest increase in home-buying intentions was in Ontario.
Commercial Construction activity has started to recover, with demand particularly high in Toronto and Ottawa. Work on the Toronto airport began in 1998 and will continue to dominate institutional building beyond 2002. Announced plans for a new Toronto waterfront, hospitals, universities, schools and new retail/entertainment projects will keep this activity high.
Spending on Residential renovations in Ontario has grown progressively through the 1990's and now exceeds spending on new housing construction. According to a recent article in Home Builder magazine (November 2004), the renovations market is even bigger and broader than anyone suspected, citing a strong correlation between roaring resale markets, and people deciding to renovate within three years of house purchase. Statistics Canada has raised their estimate of renovation spending for 2002 from $25 billion to $29.8 billion, and projects spending to increase to $36.3 billion this year. Factors influencing this higher spending include the need to maintain an aging housing and rental stock, low mortgage rates, the increasing affluence of homeowners that enables them to alter their homes to suit their needs, and an aging population that includes some homeowners who prefer to renovate rather than move. The resale market in Ontario accounts for $14.2 billion of renovation construction spending; Ontario renovators are also noticing an increase in higher-end renovations as homeowners use the equity built up in their homes to offset the cost of renovations.
According to the Globe & Mail article (March 2005), and the 12th Annual RBC Homeownership Survey, the housing industry - existing homes, home-building, buying, renovation and mortgage expenditures - accounted for an estimated record $1.7 trillion in 2004.
Impact on Employment in the Construction Sector
According to Statistics Canada, in 2000 well over 1.2 million were employed in the trades, with the labour force not keeping pace with rising employment. Construction industry employment in Canada tops 600,000workers, and construction unemployment has reached a long-term low level. Overall shortages of workers in the trades are estimated at between 35,000 and 60,000 at current levels of demand.
In some cases, shortages are caused by a lack of new entrants to take up the trade as older workers leave - a supply constraint. Overall employment demand may still be lower than in the past, but skilled people have left the trade. Trades in this situation include: Bricklayers, Labourers and Cement Finishers.
In other trades, demand for the trade has expanded - for instance, Carpenter, Roofers and Plumbers, creating a demand constraint.
The following key factors that impact on Central Ontario/Toronto and the GTA are outlined in the report:
- The construction work force in Central Ontario/GTA needs an additional 8,000 to 10,000 workers to replace losses during the 1990's and to re-establish a balanced market
- In the long term, attracting new workers into the construction trades is essential; the source population for new entrants is small and will increase only moderately in future
- The largest proportion of the construction work force is in the 35 to 44 age bracket; workers in the 45 to 54 bracket tend to leave construction at an increasing rate than their younger counterparts
- Construction labour shortages are often felt most acutely in residential construction as the older, certified and experienced workers can be attracted into commercial and industrial work by higher wages
Rebuilding apprenticeship programs hard hit by the recession of the early 1990's is crucial to achieving the industry minimum of 5,000 newly certified trades reached in the early nineties. Completing apprentices will likely satisfy only a small fraction of the construction industry manpower needs. Training will be an urgent priority as the construction sector draws on young and inexperienced workers as potential sources of labour.
How can I enter the Construction Sector workforce?
There are several entry pathways into the construction skilled trades. A recently approved training program for Construction Craft Worker apprentices is geared to providing the skills required by new entrant, general construction workers in the highrise and residential construction field. Apprentices receive training in everything from blueprint reading to operating hand tools. They also receive training on form setting and placing concrete, the use of rigs and hoists, selecting and installing scaffolding and fencing, and health and safety in this new two year program.
Rescon is one of the employer partners and supporters of Construction Craft Worker training offered at the Life Long Learning Centre located in Vaughan, and operated by Local 183 Universal Workers Union. Check out their website at www.183training.com for more information.
How can I find out more about Construction sector jobs while I attend school?
Youth enrolled in secondary schools may also be able to participate in school to career transition programs such as the one semester four credit program offered by Mattamy Homes, Ontario's second largest homebuilder. The Mattamy Homes Project provides students with a unique hands-on opportunity to experience the many skills and trades available in the home building industry while building a house from the ground up.
Skills and experience acquired through this type of experiential learning will be valuable to any post secondary destination - apprenticeship, college, university or the workplace. See your school guidance counselor in your area for more information or visit www.schooltocareer.ca.
Youth 16 years of age or older who are enrolled in secondary school may also participate in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) in any of the skilled trades, including the construction sector. OYAP offers students the opportunity to start a registered apprenticeship training program while completing an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Cooperative Education is another great way for secondary school students to experience the workplace, helping you make an informed decision about post-secondary career destinations. See your school guidance counselor in your area for more information.
How can I learn more about Construction Sector jobs as an adult seeking a career change?
Trades and Technology Exploration (TTX) programs offered by some area community colleges (e.g. Niagara College), and are an excellent way of sizing up the fit between you and potential careers in the construction sector. TTX is a short program designed to introduce you to a range of skilled trades, and provides a hands-on component that will help you assess your interest before investing in any pre-apprenticeship training or seeking construction sector jobs.
Links with Construction Sector Associations
There are many associations that provide information about Construction Sector occupations and career opportunities, as well as profiling training and access points to construction sector trades jobs.
Check out the Toronto Construction Association websites at:
Mechanical Contractors Association Toronto:
Joint Training and Apprenticeship Committee - for Plumber & Steamfitter apprenticeships
Greater Toronto Homebuilders Association:
CMD Group:
Universal Workers Union, Local 183:
Ontario Construction Secretariat:
For additional information about Construction sector growth, contact the Economic Development Department in the city where you live. Many Economic Development departments produce Market Profiles (hard copy) for their cities that provide excellent analyses of construction sector activity, right down to the type and value of building permits issued, ranking of GTA Housing starts and new home sales.
Most cities provide key economic development information, including construction sector activity, on their websites as follows:
For Brampton, visit: www.city.brampton.on.ca/economic-development
For Mississauga, visit: www.mississauga.ca/portal/business
For Burlington, visit: www.bedc.ca
For Milton, visit: www.town.milton.on.ca/ecodev/