As youth unemployment reaches its highest level in 15 years, government and industry leaders say Canada’s construction sector could provide an immediate path to work for thousands of young people. Recent Statistics Canada data shows unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 hit 14.7 percent in September, with nearly one in five graduates working outside their field of study.
At the same time, construction employers across Ontario continue to face significant labour shortages. Delays in major projects, rising costs and an aging workforce have placed mounting pressure on governments to attract more young Canadians to the trades.
Federal Conservatives are proposing targeted investments in skills training and worker housing to better align post-secondary education with job demand. Their plan includes increasing student aid for high-employment fields such as construction and manufacturing, and offering tax incentives for businesses that build or subsidize employee housing in high-demand regions.
Ontario Expands Pathways Into the Trades
In Ontario, the provincial government is already implementing policies aimed at drawing more students into the trades earlier. A 2023 initiative allows Grade 11 students to begin full-time apprenticeships while still earning credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Once students complete their Certificate of Apprenticeship, they can apply to graduate as mature students.
The province estimates 72,000 new construction workers will be needed by 2027 to replace retiring tradespeople and meet housing and infrastructure goals, such as the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
Officials say earlier access to apprenticeships gives young Ontarians the opportunity to earn while they learn, helping them enter well-paying, long-term careers without the debt associated with traditional post-secondary routes. Consultations are also underway to consider lowering educational entry requirements for some of Ontario’s 106 regulated trades.
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Industry Leaders Support Early Training
Construction associations have praised these efforts, saying earlier exposure to trades careers is essential to closing the workforce gap. The Ontario General Contractors Association described the Grade 11 apprenticeship pathway as an important step towards “normalizing construction as a career destination.”
Industry representatives have also noted that hands-on experience during high school can improve safety awareness, technical ability and long-term retention within the trades. Many argue that simplifying apprenticeship entry requirements and promoting trades programs in schools could help offset the wave of retirements expected in the coming decade.
The Canadian Construction Association projects Canada will need more than 300,000 new construction workers nationally over the next ten years. Encouraging students to enter the industry sooner, experts say, could help stabilize the workforce and maintain momentum on critical infrastructure and housing projects.
A Call for Coordination Between Governments
While the federal government points to programs such as Canada Summer Jobs and temporary boosts to student financial aid, construction industry groups say those measures fall short of addressing long-term workforce shortages.
Many are urging better coordination between federal and provincial programs to strengthen apprenticeship funding, improve housing access and promote the trades in schools.
If adopted in the upcoming fall budget, the proposed federal measures could complement Ontario’s apprenticeship reforms and help more students transition directly into construction.
With youth unemployment rising and project deadlines tightening, policymakers and industry leaders agree that connecting students to the trades is a necessity for Canada’s future growth.
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