Home/The shortage in numbers
Report · construction workforce
Québec's construction labour shortage, in numbers.
A historic employment high, sustained workforce needs, and renewal under pressure. Here's the state of the market, backed by numbers — all sourced from the Commission de la construction du Québec.
202,900
construction workers in Québec
2025 — 200,000 threshold crossed (CCQ)
~17,000
workforce needs per year
2026-2030 (CCQ, Perspectives)
17,800
new professionals brought in during 2025
CCQ — to offset growth and departures
What the numbers say
A market at its peak, a talent pool under pressure.
According to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), the industry crossed the 200,000-job threshold for the first time in 2025, with roughly 202,900 active workers — a peak driven by a full order book and major infrastructure projects.
For 2026-2030, the CCQ estimates workforce needs at about 17,000 salaried people per year, on average — a figure that combines project growth and the replacement of workers leaving the trade.
Workforce renewal is the crux: in 2025, the industry brought in 17,800 new professionals to offset both growth and departures, including those tied to an aging workforce. In several carded trades, new apprentice intake stays below the average of previous years.
Trade by trade
Where the pressure actually is.
One signal per trade, drawn from CCQ data. Click for the full picture — wage, competency card and outlook.
Electrician
The CCQ projects average annual needs of 17,000 new workers for 2026-2030 across all trades, driven by heavy order books.
The trade in detail →Pipefitter
The CCQ projects average annual needs of 16,000 new workers for 2025-2029 across the industry, with qualified labour availability rated low.
The trade in detail →Crane operator
In 2024, 2,031 crane operators were active on Quebec job sites, including 1,702 journeypersons with an average age of 45.9 — 21% of the workforce is 55 or older.
The trade in detail →Heavy equipment operator
In 2024, 6,177 heavy equipment operators were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 45.3 — meaning a lot of journeypersons will approach retirement over the next 10 to 15 years.
The trade in detail →Millwright
In 2024, 1,042 millwrights were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 42.7 — a marked sign of an aging workforce and upcoming retirements.
The trade in detail →Heavy equipment mechanic
In 2024, only 16 new apprentices were admitted into the trade industry-wide, well under the 2020-2023 annual average of 29 (source: CCQ, releve.ccq.org).
The trade in detail →Sheet metal worker
Per CCQ 2024 data, the average age of active sheet metal workers is 39.4, and 14% are 55 or older, pointing to significant retirements ahead.
The trade in detail →Ironworker
In 2024, 698 companies were recruiting structural steel erectors against 3,596 active workers, of whom only 966 were apprentices — a ratio that shows the pressure on the pipeline.
The trade in detail →Welder
Per CCQ data (2024), only 377 welders were active in Quebec's construction industry, spread across 154 companies — and only 24 new workers entered the trade that year, below the 2020-2023 average of 37 per year.
The trade in detail →Carpenter
The CCQ counted 55,280 active carpentry workers in 2024, against only 3,899 new apprentices admitted that year — well below the annual average of 5,263.
The trade in detail →Security System Electrician
In 2024, 1,275 security system electricians were active on Quebec job sites, and the CCQ rates their job prospects as 'excellent'.
The trade in detail →Refrigeration Mechanic
The CCQ rates job prospects for refrigeration mechanics as excellent: even though demand for the trade is stable, low labour availability and too few new graduates are driving worker shortages in the market.
The trade in detail →Elevator Mechanic
In 2024, 1,327 elevator mechanics were active on Quebec job sites — 882 journeypersons and 445 apprentices — with an average age of 39.3.
The trade in detail →Bricklayer-Mason
In 2024, 5,256 bricklayer-masons were active on Quebec job sites, including 3,345 journeypersons, with an average age of 38.2 and 13% of the workforce 55 or older.
The trade in detail →Tile Setter
In 2024, 2,818 tile setters were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 39.5.
The trade in detail →Cement Mason (Cement Finisher)
The CCQ rates job prospects for cement masons as excellent: demand is stable, but very low labour availability, significant workforce aging, and too few new graduates are creating real needs in the market.
The trade in detail →Painter
The CCQ rates job prospects for painters as excellent.
The trade in detail →Plasterer
The CCQ rates the plasterer's job outlook as "excellent." In 2024, 3,950 plasterers were active on Quebec job sites and 1,450 companies were hiring — a sign of a tight market.
The trade in detail →Insulator (Lagger)
The CCQ rates job prospects for insulators as 'excellent': even though demand stays stable, a significantly aging workforce, high turnover, and too few new graduates are creating sustained worker shortages in the market.
The trade in detail →Boilermaker
In 2024, 682 boilermakers were active on Quebec job sites and 69 companies were recruiting them.
The trade in detail →Roofer
In 2024, 6,559 roofers were active on Quebec job sites and 1,019 companies were recruiting at the same time — a sign of a very active market.
The trade in detail →Reinforcing Steel Worker (Rodbuster)
In 2024, 1,865 reinforcing steel workers were active on Quebec job sites (1,496 journeypersons and 369 apprentices), and 257 companies were hiring — a high number of employers relative to the available pool.
The trade in detail →Fire Protection Mechanic (Sprinkler Fitter)
In 2024, 1,747 fire protection mechanics were active on Quebec job sites, including 1,086 journeypersons, with an overall average age of 37.1 — a younger workforce than the industry average.
The trade in detail →Glazier
In 2024, 2,934 glaziers were active on Quebec job sites and 624 companies were hiring — a sign of a steady market.
The trade in detail →Resilient Flooring Installer
In 2024, 1,312 resilient flooring installers were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 42.6 that climbs to 48.5 among journeypersons — a clear sign of an aging workforce and retirements to anticipate.
The trade in detail →Interior Systems Installer (Drywaller)
In 2024, 2,914 interior systems installers were active on Quebec job sites while 1,034 companies were trying to recruit them — a ratio that points to heavy pressure on the available labour pool.
The trade in detail →Excavator Operator
In 2024, 9,441 excavator operators were active on Quebec job sites and 2,891 companies were hiring — one of the largest operator pools in the industry.
The trade in detail →CCQ data · reference
CCQ journeyperson wage and outlook, 2026, trade by trade.
All 27 construction trades carded by the CCQ, with the journeyperson hourly rate and the tension signal specific to each.
| Trade | CCQ journeyperson rate | Needs / outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $47.85 – $50.87/hr | The CCQ projects average annual needs of 17,000 new workers for 2026-2030 across all trades, driven by heavy order books. |
| Pipefitter | $47.85 – $50.87/hr | The CCQ projects average annual needs of 16,000 new workers for 2025-2029 across the industry, with qualified labour availability rated low. |
| Crane operator | $44.50 – $50.87/hr | In 2024, 2,031 crane operators were active on Quebec job sites, including 1,702 journeypersons with an average age of 45.9 — 21% of the workforce is 55 or older. |
| Heavy equipment operator | $42.05 – $48.23/hr | In 2024, 6,177 heavy equipment operators were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 45.3 — meaning a lot of journeypersons will approach retirement over the next 10 to 15 years. |
| Millwright | $47.85 – $50.87/hr | In 2024, 1,042 millwrights were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 42.7 — a marked sign of an aging workforce and upcoming retirements. |
| Heavy equipment mechanic | $46.33 – $49.95/hr | In 2024, only 16 new apprentices were admitted into the trade industry-wide, well under the 2020-2023 annual average of 29 (source: CCQ, releve.ccq.org). |
| Sheet metal worker | $47.85 – $51.26/hr | Per CCQ 2024 data, the average age of active sheet metal workers is 39.4, and 14% are 55 or older, pointing to significant retirements ahead. |
| Ironworker | $47.85 – $51.32/hr | In 2024, 698 companies were recruiting structural steel erectors against 3,596 active workers, of whom only 966 were apprentices — a ratio that shows the pressure on the pipeline. |
| Welder | $45.34 – $49.38/hr | Per CCQ data (2024), only 377 welders were active in Quebec's construction industry, spread across 154 companies — and only 24 new workers entered the trade that year, below the 2020-2023 average of 37 per year. |
| Carpenter | $45.76 – $50.24/hr | The CCQ counted 55,280 active carpentry workers in 2024, against only 3,899 new apprentices admitted that year — well below the annual average of 5,263. |
| Security System Electrician | $38.52 – $41.80/hr | In 2024, 1,275 security system electricians were active on Quebec job sites, and the CCQ rates their job prospects as 'excellent'. |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | $47.85 – $50.87/hr | The CCQ rates job prospects for refrigeration mechanics as excellent: even though demand for the trade is stable, low labour availability and too few new graduates are driving worker shortages in the market. |
| Elevator Mechanic | $52.95 – $56.70/hr | In 2024, 1,327 elevator mechanics were active on Quebec job sites — 882 journeypersons and 445 apprentices — with an average age of 39.3. |
| Bricklayer-Mason | $46.59 – $50.18/hr | In 2024, 5,256 bricklayer-masons were active on Quebec job sites, including 3,345 journeypersons, with an average age of 38.2 and 13% of the workforce 55 or older. |
| Tile Setter | $46.59 – $50.18/hr | In 2024, 2,818 tile setters were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 39.5. |
| Cement Mason (Cement Finisher) | $45.27 – $49.15/hr | The CCQ rates job prospects for cement masons as excellent: demand is stable, but very low labour availability, significant workforce aging, and too few new graduates are creating real needs in the market. |
| Painter | $42.81 – $47.89/hr | The CCQ rates job prospects for painters as excellent. |
| Plasterer | $44.99 – $48.47/hr | The CCQ rates the plasterer's job outlook as "excellent." In 2024, 3,950 plasterers were active on Quebec job sites and 1,450 companies were hiring — a sign of a tight market. |
| Insulator (Lagger) | $47.85 – $50.84/hr | The CCQ rates job prospects for insulators as 'excellent': even though demand stays stable, a significantly aging workforce, high turnover, and too few new graduates are creating sustained worker shortages in the market. |
| Boilermaker | $47.85 – $50.79/hr | In 2024, 682 boilermakers were active on Quebec job sites and 69 companies were recruiting them. |
| Roofer | $47.85 – $51.74/hr | In 2024, 6,559 roofers were active on Quebec job sites and 1,019 companies were recruiting at the same time — a sign of a very active market. |
| Reinforcing Steel Worker (Rodbuster) | $46.85 – $51.32/hr | In 2024, 1,865 reinforcing steel workers were active on Quebec job sites (1,496 journeypersons and 369 apprentices), and 257 companies were hiring — a high number of employers relative to the available pool. |
| Fire Protection Mechanic (Sprinkler Fitter) | $47.85 – $50.87/hr | In 2024, 1,747 fire protection mechanics were active on Quebec job sites, including 1,086 journeypersons, with an overall average age of 37.1 — a younger workforce than the industry average. |
| Glazier | $45.07 – $50.22/hr | In 2024, 2,934 glaziers were active on Quebec job sites and 624 companies were hiring — a sign of a steady market. |
| Resilient Flooring Installer | $41.71 – $49.07/hr | In 2024, 1,312 resilient flooring installers were active on Quebec job sites, with an average age of 42.6 that climbs to 48.5 among journeypersons — a clear sign of an aging workforce and retirements to anticipate. |
| Interior Systems Installer (Drywaller) | $45.76 – $50.28/hr | In 2024, 2,914 interior systems installers were active on Quebec job sites while 1,034 companies were trying to recruit them — a ratio that points to heavy pressure on the available labour pool. |
| Excavator Operator | $44.50 – $51.51/hr | In 2024, 9,441 excavator operators were active on Quebec job sites and 2,891 companies were hiring — one of the largest operator pools in the industry. |
Source: Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), journeyperson rate in effect as of April 2026. Rates vary by sector (residential, institutional-commercial, industrial, civil engineering and roads) — see each trade's profile for the sector-by-sector breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
The shortage, plainly.
How many workers does Québec's construction industry employ?
According to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), the industry crossed the 200,000-job threshold for the first time in 2025, with roughly 202,900 active workers — a historic high driven by a full order book and major infrastructure projects.
How much workforce does construction need each year?
The CCQ estimates the industry's workforce needs at about 17,000 salaried people per year, on average, for the 2026-2030 period (Perspectives professionnelles report). That figure covers both project growth and the replacement of workers leaving the trade.
Why is there a labour shortage in Québec construction?
Two forces combine: a sustained volume of projects (infrastructure, Hydro-Québec's 2035 action plan, housing) and workforce renewal. In 2025, the industry brought in 17,800 new professionals to offset both growth and departures, including those tied to an aging workforce. In several carded trades, new apprentice intake remains below the average of previous years.