January 12, 2022
Statistics Canada recently released its Labour Force Survey data for December 2021, allowing a closer look at Ontario’s construction employment picture in 2021 overall. First, looking at the month-over-month figures, construction employment in Ontario fell in December compared to November by about 14,000 workers, (or, -2.5%). The high-point for construction employment in Ontario in 2021 was 561,000 in August, while the low was 498,000 in February.
The construction industry in Ontario employed 534,000 workers on average in 2021, an increase of 3.7% percent compared to 2020 (or, +19,200 individuals). Compared to 2019, the construction employment total was down by 6,000 workers (or, -1.1%). The construction labour force in Ontario grew by less than half of a percent (or, +1,800 individuals) in 2021 compared to 2020. This put the unemployment rate in Ontario’s construction industry at 4.8% in 2021 overall, down from 7.9% in 2020. The previous low was 4.4% in 2018.
The general unemployment rate for Ontario finally fell to a pre-pandemic level in December, down to 5.3%. This was the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Ontario since January 2020.
_____________________________
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Katherine Jacobs
Director of Research
Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 360, Toronto, ON M9W 6A9
P 416.620.5210 ext. 222
F 416.620.5310
kjacobs@iciconstruction.com
