Today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller was scheduled to announce new measures aimed at supporting Canada’s construction industry. The press conference was set for 1:00 PM ET (Toronto time) in Ottawa, but the official IRCC Media Advisory has since been canceled.
What We Expected from the Announcement
The press release only stated “new measures to support Canada’s construction industry,” so we anticipated Minister Miller would introduce initiatives benefiting individuals and firms in the construction sector.
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
Possible announcements could have included updates to the out-of-status construction workers program, or a follow-up on recent IRCC changes, like the addition of 19 skilled trades to the list of occupations eligible for Express Entry category-based draws.
This list was updated on February 27, 2025, and now features 25 trades, the majority of which are construction-related, with the exception of cooks. Here’s a breakdown of the newly eligible occupations:
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (NOC 82021)
- Floor covering installers (NOC 73113)
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (NOC 73112)
- Roofers and shinglers (NOC 73110)
- Concrete finishers (NOC 73100)
- Other technical trades and related occupations (NOC 72999)
- Water well drillers (NOC 72501)
- Electrical mechanics (NOC 72422)
- Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics (NOC 72402)
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (NOC 72400)
- Bricklayers (NOC 72320)
- Cabinetmakers (NOC 72311)
- Carpenters (NOC 72310)
- Gas fitters (NOC 72302)
- Plumbers (NOC 72300)
- Industrial electricians (NOC 72201)
- Electricians (except industrial and power system) (NOC 72200)
- Welders and related machine operators (NOC 72106)
- Sheet metal workers (NOC 72102)
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (NOC 72100)
- Home building and renovation managers (NOC 70011)
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Construction estimators (NOC 22303)
Why These Changes Matter
Canada is facing a housing shortage, with research from the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) indicating a need for 3.5 million additional homes by 2030 to restore affordability. As the construction industry grows, it is encountering significant labor shortages, especially as the workforce ages.
BuildForce Canada reports that over 309,000 new workers are needed by 2029, driven by both retirements and an increase in construction demands. Skilled trades, like electricians, carpenters, and plumbers, are especially essential in addressing these shortages.
Additionally, immigrants play a crucial role in this sector, with around 22% of the workforce made up of immigrants. Data from the 2021 Statistics Canada Census reveals that immigrants are highly represented in various roles, such as:
- Roofers and shinglers (20%)
- Electricians (16%)
- Carpenters (15%)
- Plumbers (14%)
- Construction managers (24%)
This highlights how vital immigration is to sustaining the construction industry and addressing current workforce gaps.
Stay Tuned for Updates
Although the press conference was canceled, the industry and stakeholders will actively monitor developments. Stay tuned for further announcements from Minister Miller and updates on any new measures for Canada’s construction industry.
