April 13, 2026
SUMMARY
Employment in Ontario’s construction sector increased slightly in March, but remains lower than last year. The unemployment rate stayed relatively stable and is lower than a year ago, mainly because fewer people are participating in the labour force. Youth participation continues to decline, and women remain underrepresented in the sector.
LABOUR MARKET OVERVIEW
The unemployment rate in Ontario’s construction sector was 6.8% in March, up slightly from 6.7% in February. Employment increased by about 800 compared to the previous month. However, total employment is still 1.7% lower than a year ago, which is a decline of about 9,200 workers.
Despite the drop in employment, the unemployment rate is lower than the same time last year when it was 9.8%. This is mainly due to a smaller labour force. Over the past year, the labour force declined by 4.5%, which is about 28,000 fewer workers.
COMPOSITION OF THE LABOUR FORCE
The decline in the labour force has affected age groups differently. Youth participation aged 15 to 24 dropped sharply by 20,300 over the past year. There was also a decline of 9,700 among workers aged 55 and over. In contrast, the core working-age group aged 25 to 54 increased by about 2,000.
In terms of composition, youth make up 9.6% of the labour force, workers aged 25 to 54 account for 71.9%, and those aged 55 and over represent 18.5%.
Unemployment rates also vary by age. Youth unemployment is high at 16.7%, the highest level since May 2025. Workers aged 55 and over have the lowest unemployment rate at 3.5%, while the core age group is closer to the overall average at 6.2%.
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Women make up 12.5% of Ontario’s construction labour force, which is consistent with the long-term average. In comparison, women represent 47.2% of the labour force across all industries.
Among young workers aged 15 to 24, only 7.1% of new entrants into construction are women. This is much lower than the 48.4% seen across all industries, highlighting an ongoing challenge in attracting young women to the sector.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Gargi Bharti
Economic and Research Project Lead
Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 360, Toronto, ON M9W 6A9
P 416.620.5210
gbharti@iciconstruction.com
