N.S. faces ‘chronic’ construction worker shortage as industry sees boom

Nova Scotia is seeing a huge increase in building projects, whether it’s infrastructure or housing, but the construction association says this could falter if a chronic worker shortage isn’t addressed.

According to data from the Housing Construction Council of Nova Scotia, to keep pace with the demands, the workforce in the province needs to grow by 10,600 by 2032. This includes replacing people who are expected to retire, representing about 22 per cent of the current housing labour force.

Duncan Williams, President and CEO of The Construction Association, told Nova Scotia Today with Dan Ahlstrand, that the strong activity in the province is expected to last another decade or more.

“The shortages are still very, very real,” he said. “On a good day, we’re seeing between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs that are not filled, which means there is definitely a chronic shortage.”

One of the main construction efforts is home building, with many communities across Nova Scotia suffering from a lack of affordable options and homelessness. Commentary from the Fraser Institute blames this on population growth racing ahead of homebuilding. It notes that the population growth in the province is easing after the federal government put caps on international students and shifted its immigration policy.

However, Williams said that making sure trained workers are placed in all areas of the trades shortage is another area the association and the industry are focusing on. He said that within the labour force, jobs like a gas fitter or oil burner technologist are “undersubscribed” with dozens of positions open in Nova Scotia.

“We’re trying to be very surgical about attacking each of those areas where there is a chronic gap,” he said. “And also raise awareness about some of those professions with great pay, great benefits and great opportunities.”

Working with colleges and getting workers real-life, hands-on experience while getting paid are some of the solutions the association is using to bring people into the industry.

According to Williams, depending on the job, people can start at salaries upwards of $50,000 at an entry-level position without overtime.

“I know many people in the trades that are making six figures very easily,” he said.

In some cases, because of the worker shortage, companies from outside the province are bidding on projects and bringing their workers in, Williams explained. He said this highlights the gap in demand versus workers, but also that healthy competition is important in the industry.

“This has been going on across Canada for decades and generations,” he said. “It’s just that we’ve now seen an opportunity in Nova Scotia where we are now seeing people come into our market. It’s an attractive market.”

The biggest area the association is looking to is that the province is giving the best opportunities for homegrown talent to stay and work in the industry. He noted that the province, industry professionals and schools have been “singularly focused” on providing a qualified talent pool.