Eight good reasons to get into construction careers
Construction – Residential 2023
Alicia Packwood is Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders Association– PEI.
Atlantic Canada recorded a steady increase in housing starts in 2022. In 2022, the construction industry on PEI had a total of 6,383 workers. Of those on the residential side, 2,033 workers were building new houses, 620 were renovating homes, while 349 did maintenance.
However, the labour shortage in residential construction remains a challenge across PEI. An estimated 940 workers, or 14 percent of the current labour force, are expected to retire in the next few years. “The industry cannot afford to lose these workers,” Alicia says. “We are working on how we can replace all these people.”
She says many low or no cost training programs and on-the-job training opportunities are available, but there are not enough people to fill the gaps. A BuildForce report says in the next five years, employers will be competing even more to hire Construction Managers, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Drywallers, Painters and General Labourers.
For more information about a career in residential construction or to connect with a CHBA-PEI member, contact Alicia Packwood at 902-393-2093 or email alicia@chba-pei.ca
Visit www.chba-pei.ca
Some job titles
- General Contractor
- General Labourer
- Red Seal and Apprentice Carpenter
- Fine Carpenters
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Drywaller
- Tiling and flooring specialist
- Painter
- Bricklayer
- Foundation specialist
- Architect
- Surveyor
- Roofer
CHBA-PEI, which has about 30 members, is the provincial arm of the national organization.
Programs to help enter the trades
- Trade HERizons – for women interested in entering the trades: www.wnpei.org/projects
- PEI Construction Association Youth in Trades program: www.capei.ca/home
- BuildForce Canada programs to attract women, First Nations, and youth to the trades: www.buildforce.ca
PEI Construction – Residential news you can use
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For more information:
- The 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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