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The greying of construction
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Construction, like many industries, has an aging work force. More baby boomers are working beyond 55 or are re-entering the job market after retirement. In addition, fewer young people are pursuing careers in the building trades.
Employment in construction grew steadily from 824,000 in 2001 to just over 1 million in 2005. By July 2006, it reached a peak of 1.2 million employees. Most of these employees—including salespeople, managers and administrative support workers—were aged 25 to 45, with an average age of 39.7 years. The accommodation and food services industry had the lowest average age, 31.8, and agriculture had the highest, 43.9.
In all industries, the number of workers aged 55 and older rose 6.2% from 2004 to 2005, compared with a 0.7% increase in workers under 55. In 2001, there were 2.7 labour force participants aged 20 to 34 for every participant aged 55 and older, down from 3.7 in 1981.
In 1976, 66,000 people working in the Canadian construction industry were aged 55 and older. By 2005, that number had more than doubled to 137,000. Construction workers aged 15 to 24 numbered 143,400 in 1976, but they declined by almost half to 72,000 during the early 1990s recession. In 2005, this age group in construction rebounded to almost the 1976 levels, reaching 141,900 workers.
Despite this rebound, the skilled trades are viewed as a less viable career option for young people. Since the end of the Second World War, Canada has relied on immigrants to fill skilled trade jobs. A shortfall in workers may hit the construction trades as baby boomers enter their retirement years.
