Hire a painter in Québec.

The ratio on the books depends on the sector. In residential, it's 1 journeyperson per apprentice. In industrial, institutional-commercial, and civil engineering and roads, the ratio is 2 journeypersons per apprentice. On any given work day on site, the proportion must be at least 1 journeyperson per apprentice; for each journeyperson you employ, you can supervise one additional apprentice up to a maximum of 2 apprentices, provided one of them is in their final apprenticeship period or is a woman. Always check the ratios that apply to your sector on ccq.org. Managing these ratios well helps you maximize your training capacity without compromising your timelines, in a market where 1,960 companies were hiring painters in 2024.

You can verify a worker's competency certificate directly through CCQ's online services. A painter without a valid certificate (apprentice CCA or journeyperson CCC) can't legally work on a job site governed by the R-20 Act. Also confirm the worker holds their ASP Construction card (general health and safety on job sites), a mandatory requirement to obtain the CCQ competency certificate. Finally, make sure the candidate has experience in the sector you need — 69% of painters' work volume is in institutional-commercial, so a mostly residential background doesn't necessarily carry the same experience. With 6,957 active painters and 1,960 companies recruiting in 2024, the market is competitive: a quick check up front saves you delays and compliance issues.

Yes, the pool is under pressure. The CCQ rates the trade's job prospects as excellent precisely because low availability, aging, high turnover, and a shortage of graduates are creating sustained needs. In 2024, 1,960 companies were hiring painters against 6,957 active workers, and only 683 new apprentices were admitted — below the 2020-2023 average of 714 per year. Among journeypersons, the average age reaches 47.4 and 34% are 55 or older, pointing to upcoming retirements. Effective approaches: post on the CCQ's next-generation workforce board, reach out to schools offering the DEP in Building Painting, and work with a construction-focused recruiting agency that knows the available pool of journeypersons.