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Construction – Commercial

Construction – Commercial Employer Hiring Practices

Castle group of companies

Spring Valley Building Centre, Kensington; O’Leary Building Centre, Town ‘N Country Carpet One, Summerside and Western Truss, Elmsdale

Eight good reasons to get into construction careers

Construction outlook for 2022

Sam Sanderson, Manager of CAPEI.

The Construction Association of PEI (CAPEI) works on behalf of about 300 members to train and recruit the next generation of construction workers.

Sam Sanderson, Manager of CAPEI, says the industry is building bigger, better, and smarter buildings and now is the time to enter this thriving industry. “An estimated 1,200 to 1,500 jobs are available today. There is a place for many to start this viable, long-standing, year-round career.

“Employers need people at every skill and educational level, including those with expertise in designing, building, and maintaining these new buildings. There are many ways to enter a trade and learn and earn as you go. With the need for housing and overall infrastructure it only increases the demand for a strong workforce.”

Sam says the CAPEI membership includes all levels of building contractors, from small to medium to large size businesses. “Our members also include businesses that support the industry in areas such as financing, building sales and service, and more.”

The residential and commercial industry as a whole is operating at its maximum now. “I don’t think we can build any harder or faster, and there are challenges every day with labour and supply shortages and inflation.

“We are seeing wages go up, but we need to do more work to do everything we can to attract and encourage people to join this industry. Employers are also working hard to offer a variety of benefits for employees. Work/life balance, wages, and benefits are a key part of supporting staff properly.

“We are hearing every day that no contractor on PEI can increase their workload because of the labour shortage. Having enough staff is the number one issue across the country.”

CAPEI offers programs to help enter the industry, virtual reality training to explore the industry, and direct lines to members to help job seekers meet with employers across all trades on PEI. Sam encourages job seekers to visit the office to chat with them about creating a career in construction.

All trades in the industry are in demand, including:

  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Roofing
  • Bricklaying/Masonry
  • Carpenters
  • Cabinet makers
  • Refrigeration (HVAC)
  • Truck drivers
  • Electrical power line and cable workers
  • Concrete specialists
  • Safety professionals
  • Project managers
  • Site managers
  • Architects
  • Engineers
  • Labourer
  • Floor Installers
  • Ironworkers and structural metal fabricators
  • Renovation managers
  • Environmental Technologists
  • Heavy equipment operators
  • Welders and related machine operators
  • Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
  • Bookkeepers
  • Accountants
  • IT Specialist

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 on PEI?

Ben Paton is the HR Manager. 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 [email protected] 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.”

PEI Construction news you can use:


Find your passion; find your 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.

Apprenticeship – earn while you learn

To enter the apprenticeship program, a person must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Have a high school completion certificate or equivalent
  • Be working in one of PEI’s 58 designated trades with a suitable employer
  • Other eligibility and allowances may apply.

For more details, visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/apprenticeship-program

Trades education and training

Holland College offers a number of programs to gain employment in the construction industry. Visit www.hollandcollege.com/programs

UPEI’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering. Visit www.upei.ca/engineering

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For more information:

  • Construction Association of PEI, call 902-368-3303. Visit www.capei.ca.
  • For more about Buildforce Canada, visit www.buildforce.ca/en.
  • For more about the Canadian Home Builders Association-PEI, call 902-367-6125. Visit www.chba-pei.ca.

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