Alberta’s demand for construction workers surges with stronger push for new builds

There’s a push from all levels of government to build more homes, schools, and businesses in the coming years.

While Alberta’s construction industry grows with more investment, the big question remains: Will we have enough skilled workers to keep up with the mounting demand?

“I think that just puts more pressure on me to be the best person that I can be in my trade,” said Jason Orr, a second-year plumbing student at NAIT.

Orr says he’s glad to see the demand for skilled workers like him and 19-year-old Jaymison Wolf, who is starting his career fresh out of high school. 

“The more and more people build, the more money that’s in our pockets,” said Wolf, another second-year plumbing student at NAIT.

A new report from BuildForce Canada says nearly 60,000 new workers are needed from now until 2034 to support the construction industry to fill the incoming employment gap and replace those headed for retirement, with a little over 43,000 people in the workforce expected to hang up their coveralls. And that’s good news for Alberta’s polytechnic.

“It’s amazing to see that our numbers are increasing,” said Nicole Mahoney, the associate dean of manufacturing sciences at NAIT.

Registrations for apprenticeship programs have gone up 50 per cent, according to BuildForce.

NAIT’s programs have waiting lists, and the poltechnic is hoping a new learning centre will be built to help ease demand. 

Industry professionals like Terry Parker with Building Trades of Alberta say retaining employees is another big challenge, but with more long-term major projects on the way, he hopes that will make a difference.

“Not everyone wants to be away from home. They want to be in some of the larger centres, and so that’s why we’re looking at some of these major projects, which will bring a lot more apprentices into the trades,” Parker explained. 

And that’s music to the ears of this young plumber, hoping to find stability in the job market once he’s got his red seal.

“It’s nice seeing what the future can hold, and having that job security is awesome because it’s good money,” said Wolf.