Quebec logs record year for construction in 2025; excellent projection for 2026: CCQ

After a record year in 2025, the construction industry in Quebec is expected to continue experiencing sustained activity in 2026.

In its report released on Monday, the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) states that 216 million hours of work were recorded in 2025, despite the uncertain economic climate.

This represents a two per cent increase over the previous year, when 210.9 million hours were recorded.

Three sub-sectors of the construction industry saw an increase in activity: industrial, residential and institutional-commercial.

In the case of residential, the increase was 4 per cent compared to the previous year. In the end, 59,000 new units are expected during the year. Low interest rates have been a contributing factor, in addition to the very high demand for housing. The recovery began in 2024 and continued in 2025. And the CCQ expects it to continue in 2026, but less pronouncedly, by 3 per cent.

The largest subsector of the industry, institutional-commercial, is expected to decline in 2026, but by 2 per cent, given the decline in investment in this sector. However, it had increased by 2 per cent in 2025.

The industrial subsector saw the largest increase in 2025, up 17 per cent. The Commission underlines that this is the highest level of activity recorded in this subsector since 2012. However, it is expected to slow down in 2026. The CCQ forecasts a 14 per cent decrease in 2026. She points out that the economic uncertainty caused by the imposition of tariffs by the United States against Canada has led many companies to delay or cancel major projects.

Only the civil engineering and roads subsector experienced a decline in 2025, but this after peaking in 2024. And here again, the construction of wind turbines and power plants was still good in 2025. The Commission notes that the decline particularly affected roads and infrastructure in all regions.

For the coming year, the CCQ forecasts sustained activity in the industry in general, but slightly less active than 2025, i.e. 213.3 million hours of work.

By region

The Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie-Bois-Francs and Côte-Nord regions will all experience a decline in activity in 2026, by 7 per cent, 8 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.

The Eastern Townships and Greater Montreal are also expected to see a decrease, but very slightly, of 1 per cent in 2026.

The other regions are expected to record either a slight increase or a stable situation, says the Commission de la construction du Québec.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews