CCQ: Quebec needs 16,000 construction workers for 2025-2029

Construction labour needs will remain very high from 2025 to 2029, despite the climate of economic uncertainty and the slowdown in certain infrastructure projects.

According to estimates by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), Quebec will need 16,000 workers for the period 2025 to 2029.

There are already 197,997, but the figure of 16,000 takes into account expected departures from the industry, retirements, and additional hours made necessary by previously announced construction projects.

The CCQ expects to record an average of 211 million hours of work over the next few years, compared to 216 million in 2024.

“This is truly an industry that will remain vibrant in the coming years. Obviously, there are challenges arising from tariffs, uncertainty, and unpredictability, and that’s why things can vary,” Labour Minister Jean Boulet emphasized in an interview.

The CCQ has revised its forecasts to take into account the uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs against Canada, which has dampened the enthusiasm of some businesses. Over five years, we’ve reduced our workload by about 5 million hours/year on average. For now, that’s our assumption,” explained CCQ President and CEO Audrey Murray.

She emphasized that, despite this uncertainty, “the federal government has ambitions to invest in Canadian infrastructure, and there’s also the whole housing crisis, which is a priority for all levels of government.”

By Sector

The CCQ expects the residential sector to pick up speed after a relatively quiet few years.

“The residential sector hit its low point in 2024, and it has started to pick up speed again in recent months. Housing starts picked up again last year and will allow hours worked to rise. In the medium term, given the insufficient supply of properties and the fact that interest rates should help, new housing construction will therefore return in force, and the need for new workers will remain crucial,” she believes.

The civil engineering/roadworks sector is expected to contribute significantly to sustained activity across the industry, including the repair of the Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine tunnel, the extension of the Blue Line metro line, the replacement of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, and various Hydro-Québec projects.

Forecasts for the industrial sector have been revised downward, particularly due to losses suffered by companies in the battery sector.

As for the last sector, the institutional/commercial sector, it has also been revised downward. “The institutional and commercial sector has been on a downward trend for several months now, and this trend will continue in 2025 and 2026. Despite the government’s intentions to increase investments in institutional infrastructure, these investments will not offset the economic uncertainty that has emerged since last January,” concludes the CCQ.

Regions, Age, and Measures

Three regions stand out for the projected volume: Montreal, Quebec City, and Mauricie.

The average age of construction workers is 39, which is lower than the average age in the manufacturing industry.

Murray insists: “we must increase the proportion of graduates” in the industry, particularly because those with degrees stay in the industry longer than those who entered it through other routes. Minister Boulet noted that Quebec has already announced several measures to increase recruitment in the industry, particularly among women, members of First Nations and Inuit communities, and members of cultural communities.

He also wants to increase work-study programs and find ways to retain those already employed in the industry.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews