As the trade labour shortage continues to pose a threat to Canada, research from Homestars.com shows that nearly half of Canadians struggle to find a reliable pro to work on their home.
A recent survey from Homestars.com, the reliable way to hire pros, asked Canadians from across the country if they had been affected by the skill shortage. The results showed that 45 percent of Canadians find it difficult to find a reliable and trustworthy local pro.
This has led to nearly a third (31 percent) having to delay or even cancel a home project due to not being able to find an available contractor. Even when they were able to select a suitable pro, they often faced long waits before the work could commence, with 39 percent of those surveyed admitting that they’d found it hard to book a contractor at short notice due to availability.
Canada has been suffering from a declining skilled labour workforce for years, but the problem is speeding up. According to Employment and Social Development Canada, close to a quarter of the four million Canadians who work in trades are set to retire by the end of the decade – yet few are being recruited.
Despite the fact that a career as a contractor can be lucrative and rewarding, a culture has built that encourages university education over anything else, resulting in a decline in young people choosing to be a pro. However, more research from Homestars.com suggests that the tide may hopefully be turning – and the platform itself has a large number of pros on their books.
Of those surveyed by Homestars, 78 percent of Canadian residents would support their daughter choosing a career as a skilled pro, and 84 percent would support their son in the same way.
Respondents also seemed aware that there was not enough being done to encourage young people into a career as a contractor, both by educational establishments and by the Government. Of those asked, 77 percent agreed that the Government needs to do more about the skills shortage and incentivise younger people to a career in skilled trades.
Eighty percent felt that more could be done within education to promote trades as a career choice, while over half (53 percent) felt young people are discouraged by schools from considering a trade career. Close to half (47 percent) felt that the Government also discouraged young people from considering this career.
Colleen McGrory, from Homestars.com, said that the new research shows the impact of the construction labour shortage.
“It’s clear from the Homestars data that there is a real knock on effect of fewer people becoming pros. When people are starting to cancel work on their property due to lack of available contractors, it’s a blow to both them and our economy – and we need to take note.
“Clearly, our stats show that the majority of Canadians are appreciative of skilled trade jobs and would encourage their children into the career. We now need schools and the Government to encourage them too.
“Platforms like Homestars can help find trusted pros – but the underlying issue is that we need more people to consider a career as a home improvement professional. Working in the trades offers the individual brilliant opportunities in terms of flexibility, great earnings, and the ability to start your own business. It’s a career that offers a lot to both the individual and the community as a whole.”