Looking for Carpenter Jobs in Canada? Read This Guide

Between 2022 and 2031, the number of carpenter jobs in Canada is expected to reach 37,900. However, the number of job seekers is not expected to exceed 32,800. Combine that with the massive housing shortage that the country is facing and the job prospects for carpenters are looking good.

That being said, with just about any job, it comes with its fair share of challenges finding the right kind of job that one wants to turn into a career. We’ll explore this trade in depth, what’s great about it, what’s not, and the other details you need to know about the job.

Carpenter Job Description

A carpenter is a skilled tradesperson who constructs, installs, maintains and repairs structures and fixtures made of wood and other materials. This could include building foundations, erecting walls and installing roofing, door frames, stairways and anything else of the sort.

Carpenters typically work standard 35 to 40 hour work weeks. Work can be either indoors or outdoors. Typical businesses a carpenter would work for are construction companies, contractors, working as maintenance for a factory or other establishment or self employed working at different locations. If going to construction sites the commute can be long.

The work can be quite different depending on whether you’re working on a residential, commercial or industrial project. Residential work would involve new home construction, remodelling and custom work (e.g. framing houses, replacing flooring, creating built-in shelving). In commercial settings you’d be working on office buildings, schools, hospitals, that kind of thing. You’d be doing larger scale work like fitting out large buildings for specific commercial uses. Building a lot of interior walls, drywalling, metal framing, etc. In industrial settings you’re doing concrete formwork, scaffolding and other work on really big projects like bridges, tunnels and factories.

Not all carpentry jobs are close to home. Carpenter camp jobs (or fly in fly out carpenter jobs) generally involve working in remote locations, usually living in camps that are set up near mining, oil and gas or large infrastructure projects. Due to the isolated nature of the work, workers generally receive higher pay. They typically work schedules where they are working straight for a period of time then get a good amount of time off (e.g. 14 days on, 7 days off).

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Carpenter Job Duties

Although carpentry can vary depending on the setting, there are some shared carpenter job responsibilities that most carpenters can expect to perform. These include the following:

• Measure, shape and cut wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel, plastic and other materials.
• Fitting and installing window frames, trim, doors and moulding
• Building foundations, erecting walls, installing roofing and laying floors.
• Installing fixtures and hardware.
• Perform maintenance, repairs and renovation
• Finishing surfaces for a polished appearance
• Assemble and install cabinetry
• Reading and interpreting drawings, blueprints and sketches to understand project requirements

Carpenter Job Requirements

Becoming a carpenter in Canada should not be overly difficult, as the only real requirement is the completion of a three-year or four-year apprenticeship program. Instead of an apprenticeship program, it’s also possible to become a carpenter by taking some carpentry courses combined with over four years of work experience.

Though completion of secondary school is usually required, it’s not always a mandatory requirement.

The only province where trade certification is mandatory is Quebec. It’s available, though voluntary, in the other provinces and territories.

Physical Demands and Stress

Those looking to enter carpentry should be aware that it’s a physically demanding job. Carpenters generally stand for long periods of time, do a lot of reaching, kneeling, bending over and climbing. You have to be able to lift heavy loads and work with heavy tools day in day out. The job requires a good amount of stamina and strength.

The job takes its toll on people. Over time the following can become issues, in some cases forcing people out of the job: back pain, respiratory issues, hearing damage, injuries from falling, repetitive stress injuries (RSI).

Something that’s not often talked about is the stressors that come with the job. Since carpenters are the most pervasive trade in construction, there’s more of them than any other trade and you’ll see them from the beginning of a project right through to the end. So, unfortunately, what happens is some employers ask their carpenters to perform a wide variety of tasks that they are not trained to do, nor should they be expected to do. That goes from doing manual labour that does not require their skills to skilled labour that they’re not trained for.

This jack-of-all-trade usefulness can deal a lot of carpenters long hours that they are not necessarily being compensated well for as the average pay for a carpenter is rather low given the amount of skill they need to have. Particularly if they are being asked to do tasks outside of their job description.

The Job Outlook for Carpenters in Canada

Thankfully, the carpenter job outlook in Canada is quite good. The provinces with the best job outlook are Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba.

Other provinces and territories that have a good job outlook are Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Ontario and the Yukon.

However, the job outlook for carpentry positions in British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan are somewhat limited at this time.

Average Salary for Carpenters in Canada

The average salary for a carpenter in Canada is $51,683 per year, with entry level positions generally starting at upwards of $42,000 per year, with more experienced carpenters making close to $65,000 per year.

How much do carpenters make per hour in Canada?

Although the hourly wage can generally range anywhere from $20 to $40 per hour, the average carpenter in Canada makes $26.50 per hour.

Different Types of Carpenter Jobs

Finish Carpenters

Finish carpenters are experts in performing the final touches on construction jobs, such as trim and moulding, stairs, doors, windows, cabinetry and other fixtures. Precision and detail are key aspects here.

Framing Carpenters

One of the most common carpenter jobs is the framing carpenter. Framing carpenters specialize in constructing the framework of buildings, including foundations, roofs, walls and floors.

Carpenter Helpers

Carpenter helper jobs are entry level positions for people who are just starting off in carpentry, and generally provide training. Helpers assist more experienced carpenters with a variety of tasks.

Apprentice Carpenter Jobs

We then have carpenter apprentice jobs in which a student combines classroom instruction with job site training to learn the trade.

There are several other types of carpenter positions, including carpenter-joiner, maintenance carpenter, renovation carpenter, metal framer-carpenter, rough carpenter, stair builder-carpenter.

How to Get Carpenter Jobs in Canada with Visa Sponsorship

At this time, to get a carpenter sponsorship job in Canada, an individual must first secure a job offer from a Canadian employer.

The employer must then obtain an LMIA or labor market impact assessment to hire a worker from a foreign country to prove that there is no Canadian workers available to fill the position. Once the LMIA is approved, a worker can apply for a work permit.

Here you’ll find a full list of requirements for foreign workers looking to get a carpenter job in Canada with visa sponsorship.

Finding Carpenter Jobs in Canada

Looking for other types of construction jobs? Read Career Paths in Green Building to get some other ideas.