b'COVER STORYTHESHRINKING CONSTRUCTION LABOUR POOLCOMING OUT OF COVID-19, WHERE IS THE INDUSTRY NOW? By Warren HeeleyRISING VACCINATIONS ANDwork stoppages and lost jobs duringnumbers, the 2020-2029 Buildforce fluctuating seasonal control ofCOVID, the pandemic does not appearConstruction and Maintenance Looking infection rates have industries optimisticto have changed the shortfall in skilledForward workforce estimates continue to about a return to the pre-COVID-19 tradespeople. As the number of retireesbe accurate for this period.world under new normals. Supplycontinues to exceed the number of new shortages, increased health and safetyworkers, the importance of finding newIndustry estimates forecast a labour protocols, as well as an uncertain ways to recruit workers into the industryshortfall as high as 100,000 workers future, are what lie ahead in becomes vital. The wild card in theby 2030. Other sources forecast a 10 the post-COVID landscape. equation is using technology to offset theper cent decrease in construction jobs lack of skilled workers. as compared to pre-COVID numbers. The lack of skilled labour in constructionThe labour shortfall could also create is not a new normal; its a problemBY THE NUMBERS slowdowns and increased project costs that dates back long before COVID. TheBuildforce Canadas July 2021 reportin the future.gap between new workers and workerspredicts that retiring construction retiring has been widening for decadesworkers will reach 257,000 by 2029.In some sectors such as oil and gas, as baby boomers reach the end of theirOptimistic post-COVID worker growthconstruction jobs have decreased by working careers. in the same period will still result in a50 per cent. The higher the trade skill deficit of more than 82,000 workers inlevel, the older the workers are, which So, has the pandemic had an effect onthe industry. Acknowledging that thetranslates into a higher likelihood of the construction labour pool? Despitepandemic skewed the 2020 workforcenear-term retirement.14Quarter 42021 BUILDERSDIGEST'