Growth in construction sector is a good indicator of a strengthening economy
Supplied by CareerBuilder Canada and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl.
Canada’s construction industry has seen steady growth over the last several years, and new data suggests the expansion will continue throughout 2014. According to CareerBuilder Canada and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), employment in the construction industry has grown by 12 per cent from 2011 to 2014, adding over 102,000 jobs, outpacing four per cent growth for all jobs.
“The construction industry is often a reliable indicator of an economy’s strength, and right now we’re seeing very encouraging growth,” said Mark Bania, director at CareerBuilder Canada. “Not only has the construction industry added a wide variety of occupations over the past few years, but this growth has stretched across the entire country.”
In order to help workers determine where the opportunities lie within this growing industry, CareerBuilder and EMSI put together a list of the fastest-growing construction occupations. Among occupations that are expected to see the greatest percentage increases in 2014 are:
1) Administrative officers – Oversee and implement administrative procedures, establish work priorities and co-ordinate the acquisition of administrative services such as office space, supplies and security services.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 5.1 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $21.63
2) Contractors and supervisors, heavy construction equipment crews – Includes excavating, grading, paving, drilling and blasting contractors who own and operate their own business and contractors who supervise crane operators, drillers and blasters, heavy equipment operators, longshore workers, material handlers, public works maintenance equipment operators, railway track maintenance workers and water well drillers.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 4.4 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $29.85
3) Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations – Includes telecommunications and electrical trade contractors who own and operate their own business and contractors who supervise electricians, industrial electricians, power system electricians, electrical power line and cable workers, telecommunications line and cable workers, telecommunications installation and repair workers and cable television service maintenance technicians.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 4.3 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $34.58
4) Welders and related machine operators – Operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.8 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $24.11
5) Residential and commercial installers and servicers – Install and service a wide variety of interior and exterior prefabricated products such as windows, doors, electrical appliances, water heaters, fences, play structures and septic systems at residential or commercial properties.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.8 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $18.51
6) Truck Drivers – Operate heavy trucks to transport goods and materials over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. Also includes shunters who move trailers to and from loading docks within trucking yards or lots.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.5 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $20.29
7) Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers – Lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.4 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $32.78
8) Construction trades helpers and labourers – Assist skilled tradespersons and perform labouring activities at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.4 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $19.09
{fastsocialshare}
9) Construction managers – Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a construction company or a construction department within a company, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.2 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $35.42
10) Heavy equipment operators (except crane) – Operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.1 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $25.48
11) Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers – Includes roofing, masonry, painting and other construction trade contractors, not elsewhere classified, who own and operate their own business. Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of various tradespersons, installers, repairers and servicers.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $28.38
12) Construction estimators – Analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.7 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $29.99
13) Plumbers – Install, repair and maintain pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and wastewater disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.7 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $25.86
14) Electricians (except industrial and power system) – Lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures.
· Change in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.7 per cent
· Median hourly earnings – $27.99
Job growth by region
The construction industry has grown across all ten provinces, though it remains slightly more concentrated in some. The provinces that saw the highest growth in construction jobs over the past year include:
1) Newfoundland and Labrador
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 5.2 per cent
2) Alberta
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 4.1 per cent
3) Saskatchewan
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.9 per cent
4) Manitoba
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 3.2 per cent
5) British Columbia
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.6 per cent
6) Quebec
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.5 per cent
7) Ontario
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.5 per cent
8) Nova Scotia
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 2.1 per cent
9) New Brunswick
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 1.4 per cent
10) Prince Edward Island
· Increase in construction employment (2013-2014) – 0.3 per cent
{fastsocialshare} 