Getting started in the construction industry on PEI

by Gloria Welton

The Construction Association of PEI (CAPEI) helps foster, promote, and advance the interests and efficiency of the construction industry on PEI by acting on behalf of and for its members.

The provincial government reports the construction industry on PEI has about 8,500 workers, and that number is steadily rising.

“The industry needs about 1,000 more workers in the industry today,” says Sam Sanderson, General Manager of CAPEI. “There is no better time to be in construction than right now. The future of this industry is very bright and promising.”

Sam says the industry is building bigger, better, and smarter buildings and employers need people at every skill and educational level, including those with expertise in designing, building, and maintaining these new buildings.

All trades in the industry are in demand, including:

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Starting wages

“We are starting to see an increase in wages, salaries, and medical benefits,” says Sam. “Employers are looking at new and creative ways to maintain their current and future work force.

“Wages for entry-level positions range from $15 to $20. Salaries are being increased to encourage people to come into the industry, and as they receive further experience and training, wages are increasing more.

“We are starting to hear stories of new people coming into this industry saying they are now earning a livable wage that may not obtainable in other sectors.”

How does someone get started in the industry?

Ben Paton is the HR Advisor. He regularly meets with CAPEI members and will post open positions on www.workpei.ca and www.IslandBuilder.ca

Those interested in a career in construction should contact Ben Paton, CAPEI’s HR Advisor, at hr@capei.ca or 902-368-3303.

Reach out to CAPEI to see what kind of careers are available. Sam identified a couple of pathways into the industry.

“You can take one of the post-secondary Industrial Technology and Trades program choices at Holland College. After graduation, work with an employer and register with the provincial Apprenticeship program to work toward professional certification in a designated skilled trade.

“You can also go directly into the industry and earn while you learn and register with the Apprenticeship program if you want to work toward professional certification in a designated skilled trade.”

Reach out to CAPEI to see what kind of careers are available. Sam identified a couple of pathways into the industry.

“You can take one of the post-secondary Industrial Technology and Trades program choices at Holland College. After graduation, work with an employer and register with the provincial Apprenticeship program to work toward professional certification in a designated skilled trade.

“You can also go directly into the industry and earn while you learn and register with the Apprenticeship program if you want to work toward professional certification in a designated skilled trade.”

Training available to new entrants and those already in the industry

Skilled Newcomers in Construction program will have three intakes in 2022. Check the CAPEI website for information session time and eligibility. The next information session is December 8. Details are posted on the website and on Facebook.

Youth in Trades 2022 program will be held in Charlottetown and Summerside. Information session details will be posted on the website in early January 2022.

The Construction Industry Training Centre in Charlottetown is now open and will be utilized for all CAPEI programs.

The facility will offer entry-level training only. “We encourage those who want to take further training to go through the apprenticeship accredited trades programs at Holland College,” says Sam.

“The new facility will help the industry dig deeper to help those interested in entering the field. We have offered programing for youth to expose them to a career in construction for almost 32 years and are now offering programs to newcomers. The new training centre opens up even more possibilities.

“There are so many potential opportunities,” says Sam. “We want to offer training opportunities to more people, so partnerships are important. We are working to partner with organizations to attract more newcomers, Indigenous peoples, women, and all ethnic backgrounds to make the construction industry an accessible and valued career choice. Construction knows no barriers and we need to create any opportunity we can.”

This new training location will offer hands-on experience and help people become more employable. “It will provide the industry with new staff who have more exposure and experience, and who will be more ready to take on entry-level jobs.

“Education is a factor in becoming a more inclusive workplace. Training has been available online through Buildforce Canada for many years and we are constantly promoting that to industry. We are working on possibly offering more training and making it available to our members.

“As an industry leader, CAPEI reaches out to our members to see where the shortfalls are and works to accommodate them. We aim to come up with new exciting and appealing ideas that both employers and employees can benefit from. We are all looking to find that next great employee or employer and to help them excel.”

There is an increasing need for continuous training to keep up with technology and standards in this industry, which is already so busy and in such high demand. “We are working with some partners to deliver virtual reality training. That is the way future training is going, and we hope to have more to announce on this in the near future.

Recruitment plans

One of CAPEI’s main pillars to recruitment is educating youth and newcomers to PEI about the trades sector and the opportunities in the industry. “We want the general public to be aware that some of our community leaders are contractors and trades people, so that a career in construction will be seen as a viable career path.

“In the trades sector you earn while you learn, so people finish with little educational debt, and work is readily available. Through the apprenticeship process, when the Red Seal is obtained, wages can start at $60,000 per year. There are so many other types of jobs which offer great opportunities and salaries, such as architect, engineer, and designer.”

Sam says CAPEI is having tremendous success working with junior high and high schools to give students more exposure to careers in construction by using virtual reality software.

“Virtual reality career awareness allows students to put on a headset, grab controllers, and virtually experience trades such as welding, plumbing, or HVAC.”

“Those who have tried it are amazed at how much it feels like the real thing. We are the first construction association in Canada to offer virtual reality trades career awareness.

“We work with employers to post all of their jobs through the Island Builder and WorkPEI job posting sites. HR Manager Ben Paton regularly meets with CAPEI members and will post open positions on both sites. He is also willing to meet with job seekers interested in the industry.”

CAPEI now has a drone and posts videos of their members. They are very active on social media to raise awareness of the industry and the opportunities.

“We had huge membership growth over the last year and a half, and we are now up to 270 members. We are seeing so much growth. The province is reporting in 2021 the number of building permits has increased by almost 50 percent. Building construction value has increased by almost 65 percent.”

Trades Can is a construction immigration and foreign worker recruitment site established in partnership with the Construction Association of PEI. “This international recruitment tool is available to our members. We are working with a couple of key partners on this platform, which is becoming a very innovative tool that can help the industry reach a broader audience. Right now, we are working with about 27 companies looking at international recruitment to help address the shortage of workers.”

Sam says in the first half of 2021 the industry’s revenues doubled on PEI. “We are a billion dollar a year industry.

“As our population continues to grow, the demand on industry is going to increase. The need for housing and every bit of infrastructure that needs to be put in place will allow the industry to continue to climb.

“If you have any interest in working in the construction industry, consider it very seriously, because there is tremendous opportunity. You will learn an awful lot and it will open doors for you. You will always have a job.

“CAPEI can be your starting point and we will do the best we can to get you connected to this industry.”