Hire a carpenter in Québec.

Across all sectors, the base rule is one journeyperson per apprentice on the same workday. In industrial, institutional-commercial, and civil engineering and roads, a journeyperson can supervise two apprentices if one is in their final apprenticeship period or one is a woman. In residential, the ratio stays strictly 1:1. This flexibility is worth using given the numbers: only 3,899 new apprentices were admitted in 2024 against an annual average of 5,263, so training more apprentices per journeyperson where the rules allow can help offset the gap. Carpentry also remains the CCQ's largest trade by headcount, with 55,280 active workers in 2024, so ratio compliance affects a lot of crews. With the trade's average age at 37.7, using the flexible ratio where it applies helps bring on apprentices faster than a strict 1:1 crew allows.

Yes, the pressure is real and documented by the CCQ. In 2024, only 3,899 new apprentices were admitted into the trade, well below the annual average of 5,263. With 55,280 active workers and an average age of 37.7, retirements will pick up. The CCQ lets you activate a regional 'shortage alert' to get notified as soon as a labour pool opens. The CCQ projects a need for 17,000 new recruits per year across the whole industry through 2028, and carpentry's sheer size — 55,280 active workers — means it absorbs a large share of that pressure. With women still just 2.6% of the workforce, employers actively recruiting outside the traditional pipeline may find an underused source of candidates. Strong ongoing demand in both housing and major institutional projects across Quebec means that pressure isn't expected to ease soon.

No. On sites governed by the R-20 Act, every worker must hold a valid CCQ competency card before starting work. The CCQ does provide entry paths for people without a DEP (labour pools, experience recognition) — but the card has to be issued before the first hour on site. Also confirm the card matches the actual work: specialties like formworker, deep foundation installer, or floor sander-finisher are issued after only 4,000 apprenticeship hours instead of the full 6,000, so a specialty card doesn't necessarily cover general carpentry tasks. Given the trade's 30-hour ASP Construction requirement, verify that health and safety training is current too. Since carpentry covers everything from framing and formwork to doors, windows, stairs, and built-in millwork, confirming the card matches the actual scope of work also protects you from liability if a project inspector asks for proof.