Considering Construction Sector For Working In Canada

Know About high-paying construction jobs in Canada. The construction sector is colossal in terms of employment in Canada. This sector provides about 1.3 million jobs to people in Canada and contributes to 7 percent of the total GDP of the country. Residential buildings, institutional buildings, oil and natural gas construction, and commercial and industrial sectors require skilled people for their work.

Canada’s population is getting aged but its steady economic growth has created a strong demand for professionals and workers in different trades. And the demand for skilled labor is surpassing the supply. Only 38 million people are living in the second-largest country in the world. Therefore, Canada depends on international workers for its construction projects.

A degree in civil engineering or architecture provides excellent groundwork for construction professionals who wish to pursue a career in the construction industry. The most beautiful thing about construction is that while a higher education gives you an initial advantage, it is possible to work to step up the ladder regardless of the level of formal education. It is important to note that Canada, like other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, focuses on allowing immigrants to work as temporary workers by granting them short-term permits.

Degrees and Qualifications

If you want to come to Canada and work in the construction sector, then you must possess one of the following degrees or qualifications:

Masters/MBA: Holding a master's or MBA degree is favorable for immigration to Canada through the economic class program.

A higher diploma such as a B.Tech, M.Tech, or ITI provides excellent job opportunities for immigrants in Canada.

How to move to Canada as a construction worker

The great thing about moving to Canada as a construction professional is that there are many options available for you. Unlike other countries such as Australia or the Gulf States, there are work permit categories that do not require a job offer, and there is a quick route to getting permanent residence in Canada, even if you don’t have a job offer or have never lived in Canada before. Canada welcomes construction workers through different PR programs and a range of work permit categories.

Locations to consider for working as a construction worker in Canada

Toronto: Toronto has many suburbs as well as a downtown core famous for the CN Tower and the ever-increasing number of skyscrapers in its shadow. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has around 6 million people and thus represents one of the largest employment markets in Canada for construction.

Vancouver: The lower mainland area of Vancouver has a total of 10 cities or municipalities with a booming real estate market and a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects.

Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada, but it offers a lot of opportunities. You might need to reconsider if you don’t have a working knowledge of French.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and many construction works regularly go in Ottawa and it provides quality of life to people. 

Calgary is the home of oil and natural gas in Canada and is struggling with low commodity prices, but a lack of pipelines has failed to bring Canadian oil to the world market.

Edmonton is a blue-collar town in Alberta and is known for its rich resources of oil and natural gas.

Different types of construction jobs in Canada

We must simply refer to the construction industry, where jobs range from management to hands-on labor in Canada. Many types of jobs will appeal to you in the construction industry.

Pre-construction job opportunities

Preconstruction managers mainly work with clients. They manage paperwork and prepare things for the project manager to take over.

On the lower end, this job pays $100,000 per year, but with experience, some managers also make $180,000 every year.

On the other end of the spectrum, pre-construction jobs include positions like estimators, who make $60,000 per year when they begin. Under the circumstances, estimators can make around $160,000 every year. As the name suggests, estimators figure out the cost of a construction project. At times, it may mean figuring out the total cost of the project, while in other cases, the costs can be divided into subprojects, like the foundation of a project.

Working in construction project management

A basic project manager plans the construction project. They designed the construction approach to keep construction costs lower. It is the duty of the project manager to keep the budget of the project low. The managers often end up with clients and subcontractors, which means they have to develop a certain proficiency in social skills as well. Project managers make between $90,000 and $160,000 every year. After some years of experience, a project manager can become a senior project manager or project director. A project director manages multiple projects at the same time.

Construction careers in site management

The site management category of construction jobs includes positions like site supervisor. This job requires technical skills. People achieve this position after gaining experience while working in different trades. Site managers manage operations on the site of a construction project, making $90,000 to $180,000 per year.

Construction manager jobs in commercial projects

Commercial management positions require contract managers to work on infrastructure projects, assist in contracts, and organize administrative work. These managers make $80,000 to $150,000 every year. General commercial managers work on large commercial projects. This role is common in Canada, and the salary for this role ranges from $120,000 to $180,000 every year.

Reasons why the construction sector offers good career opportunities

There are jobs

In the construction sector, there has always been a demand for skilled workers to work on different projects. In the next 10 years, there will be 245,000 workers who will retire from their jobs, so new opportunities will be created for job seekers.

The money is good

The wages offered to skilled and semi-skilled workers in the construction sector in Canada are the best in the world. There is a 22% increase in average wages for construction work so that the workers can make their living easy. The workers can get their own condos or homes to live in, send their children to school, etc.

You can start earning money early

After you finish your studies, there are jobs in different trades that will pay you good salaries at the beginning of your career.

You can build a lifelong career in construction

The career starts as a foreman, supervisor, project manager, and construction manager. Fields like health and safety, training, and engineering are other jobs where you can dedicate your career. You can even start your own construction business in the later years of your career.

You get opportunities to travel

By working in different areas of Canada, you may have to travel to different parts of the country. There may be different construction works happening, like electric utilities, road construction, public works railway lines, mining, wastewater treatment, etc., that require travel.