(Montreal) As the job market tightens, employers in the construction industry are far fewer in number reporting recruitment difficulties.
In fact, only 55% reported having had difficulty recruiting workers over the past 12 months.
The decline in the number of employers experiencing recruitment difficulties has been constant since spring 2022, when 72% of employers reported them.
This data comes from a consultation that the Commission de la construction du Québec conducts twice a year, in the spring and fall, with employers in the industry. This time, 1,198 of them responded to the consultation, conducted from May 21 to June 4.
“Recruitment difficulties have significantly diminished,” concludes the CCQ.
However, recruitment difficulties still exist for many people.
“As a result of these recruitment difficulties, 56% of employers said they were hiring less experienced workers, increasing salaries or benefits (38%), and thirdly postponing or spreading out contracts (28%),” the CCQ emphasizes.
Along the same lines, one in five employers, or 20%, said they had not had any recruitment difficulties in the last 12 months. By comparison, only 8% were in this situation in spring 2022.
When employers were asked what the main obstacle to the smooth running and profitability of their business was, 54% cited the skills and quality of the workforce. This is the most damaging obstacle of the 15 proposed.
Costs and supplies
Construction costs also seem to weigh less heavily than before.
The increase in construction costs, which was a stumbling block pointed out by 43% of them last fall, has now fallen to 34%. And these costs include both salaries and materials.
Similarly, difficulties in obtaining construction materials have eased for them.
Over the past six months, between fall 2023 and spring 2024, the proportion of those who cited these supply difficulties as the main obstacles to the profitability and smooth running of their business has fallen from 14% to 6%.