Skills Canada

Canadian construction job market should remain somewhat tight into 2009

by John Clinkard

While the total value of building permits fell by 5.3% month over month in June 2008, they were actually up by 13.1% quarter over quarter for the second quarter of 2008 as a whole. This figure marks the second largest increase in more than 10 years, and follows an 8.2% drop in the first quarter.

Surprisingly, all four major construction sectors contributed to the quarterly increase in total building permits.

The commercial construction sector saw an increase of 31.2% in the value of commercial building permits, following a 4.3% drop in the first quarter.

The total value of residential building permits increased by 5.8% in the second quarter, its strongest quarterly increase since second-quarter 2007. This increase comes despite declines in sales of existing homes and rising numbers of completed and unabsorbed single and semi-detached dwelling units.

The value of institutional building permits increased by a very solid 19.9% in the second quarter, following an 11% drop in the first.

Finally, despite the strong dollar and eroding manufacturing profits, the value of industrial building permits was up by 10.8% in the second-quarter, due to healthy increases in Ontario, Quebec, all four Atlantic provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

In view of this broad-based increase in the total value of residential and non-residential building permits, it is not really surprising that the construction sector added 10,000 jobs in July, while the rest of the economy lost 65,500. Although the majority of July’s new construction jobs were in British Columbia, year-to-date construction employment is up in every province except Nova Scotia.

Looking forward, the healthy increase in both residential and non-residential building intentions in the second quarter will probably ensure that the construction job market in general remains fairly tight into 2009.

Having said this, the recent pull-back in housing starts and the slowdown in the growth of new house prices indicate that single-family residential construction will steadily weaken over the next several quarters.

However, this pull-back should be offset in part by moderate growth of multi-unit residential, commercial, institutional and industrial building, growth that should extend into 2009.

Jobs boom went bust in July: Statistics Canada

OTTAWA — The job boom went bust in July, with the loss of 55,000 jobs, the worst single-month drop since the height of the recession of the early 1990s.

Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate actually slipped to 6.1 per cent in July from 6.2 per cent in June, but only because many people - especially the young - left the work force. The economy is clearly slowing, analysts said.

"The Canadian economy is clearly downshifting in response to the downturn in the U.S. and the past run up in the Canadian dollar," said Michael Gregory of BMO Capital Markets.

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Ellis Don - Construction Manager

Construction Manager

Locations: Calgary, Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Halifax

EllisDon is a global construction services company that cares about only three things:

Maximizing the success of our clients, creating terrific opportunities for our employees, and demonstrating innovative leadership within our company. We have a fifty-seven year history of building and operate by a unique set of values: mutual trust, entrepreneurialism, and execution.

We believe it is through choice that people take advantage of the opportunities at EllisDon. We are a company focused on continually searching out opportunities to make a difference, to become stronger, to stay a leader.EllisDon is pursuing various projects in Calgary, Fort McMurray and Halifax and is looking for qualified candidates for each location.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
· Oversee total construction effort to ensure project is constructed in accordance with design, budget and schedule. Includes interfacing with client
· representatives, architect representative, subcontractors, security, etc
· Plan, coordinate and/or supervise activities of all company personnel on assigned project(s)
· Authorize/approve all project personnel transactions, purchase requisitions, change requests, etc
· Ensure all company, client, and project policies, procedures, standards, etc., are adhered to. Interpret policies as required
· Provide direction to planning, scheduling, and engineering functions as required
· Perform additional assignments per supervisor's direction.

Skills, Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience:

High-rise commercial, heath care and retail construction background
Has completed projects in excess of $100 million
Must have 15 - 20 years construction related experience
Confident in abilities and proven track record.

To apply, please visit our Careers section on http://www.ellisdon.com/

Thank you for your interest in EllisDon but please note that only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Canada Green Building Council - VP Market Development

Canada Green Building Council has an opening for VP of Market Development for Ottawa. Deadline to apply is August 18.

Job Purpose
As a member of the VP team, the VP Market Development plays a key role in strategically advancing the Council’s mission and goals in the marketplace. Emphasis is on industry engagement and partnership development, training and education to enable the industry to take action toward the 2015 goal. The VP Market Development reports directly to the President & CEO and advises the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.

For more details following this link:CAGBC JOB OPENING

Second career starts here

Ontario is helping recently laid-off unemployed workers get the training they need for a new career. The Second Career program helps people enter new occupations where there is high demand.

Who is it for?

Second Career is for recently laid-off, unemployed workers, whether eligible for Employment Insurance or not.

What type of help is provided?

Second Career can provide financial support to assist with skills training costs. A list of possible careers is available.

What types of skills training programs are covered?

Second Career can help with training for high-skills jobs that are in demand. For example, there are many high-skills occupations in the growing fields of:

Healthcare
Construction
Hospitality and tourism

Second Career can assist with the training needed for a new career, which might be offered by:

Community Colleges
Private training schools

When and how can people apply?

Recently laid-off, unemployed workers – whether eligible for Employment Insurance or not – can apply to participate in Second Career.

To apply, they need to visit an Employment Ontario assessment centre. At the centre, an employment counsellor will:

Help them identify their skills, experience and education
Ask them about their career goals and interests
Determine which programs and services best suit their needs.
If the assessment centre counsellor thinks Second Career is the right choice, he or she will help with the application process.

Getting started

There are nearly 150 Employment Ontario assessment centres providing Second Career. You can call the Employment Ontario hotline at 1-800-387-5656 to find the centre nearest you. Or call any Employment Ontario office. You can find Employment Ontario offices near you on this website.

Working Together
Ontario receives support for some skills training programs from the Government of Canada

Apprenticeships 101 - learn how to get into the trades

BY MARIA TZAVARAS

Each year, thousands of Ontario students embark on a post-secondary education. However, mainstream careers aren't for everyone and a career in a skilled trade is a great option for those who aren't keen on continuing their education in the classroom.

"If a student is very practically based than apprenticeship training may be the best opportunity for them," said Diane Gooch, manager of recruitment at Centennial College in Scarborough.
There are about 140 apprenticeship careers in Ontario in four sectors: construction; industrial manufacturing; motive power or transportation; and service. Gooch said the benefits of choosing an apprenticeship is that it's a paying job and classroom time is minimal.

"For a lot of people, the classroom may not be the best setting for them. To be working for four days a week and going to college for one maybe more motivating, they work better that way," she said.

Gooch said there are a few different ways to become part of a trade.
One option is that students must find an employer on their own and then register with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Apprenticeship adjustment branch (416-326-5800). From there, the ministry helps the student find a college placement.

"Students actually do on-the-job training before they come to college," Gooch said. "They have to work with an employer first and then the ministry will arrange for them to go to college to get more of the theory and some of the experience they won't get in the workplace."

However, the down side is that many students do not have enough experience to find an opportunity with an employer and, "for an employer to pay somebody they have to have some sort of skill to offer," she said.

To gain experience, Gooch suggests a co-op such as the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship program (OYAP), which many high schools offer.

"So an employer knows they are fairly good because they have been doing it for the past year ... and they're willing to take them on as an apprentice," she said.

But for those who don't have experience, another option is taking a two-year college program to obtain the needed skills. However, doing it this way means students won't be paid.

A few years ago, the ministry introduced the co-op diploma apprenticeship program, which combines a college diploma program and apprenticeship training leading to a certificate of qualification.

"For example, at Centennial we offer automotive service, heavy-duty equipment ... so the students will do two semesters in the classroom, then spend eight months with an employer for which they get paid and then two semesters back in the classroom and end up with a diploma," she said.

Gooch said often employers hire students when they're finished. However, while being paid is guaranteed, the placement being nearby or being hired on is not.
"However, if you come and do our full-time, two-year program ... our employment centre will help you locate an opportunity," she said.

Like any career path, finding an apprenticeship isn't without its obstacles and Judith Andrews knows about many of them.

Andrews is the vice-president, Ontario, of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which provides a voice for its 105,000 members, 42,000 of whom live in Ontario. Andrews stays on top of the issues facing small- and medium-sized businesses through regular surveys. They also lobby at the federal, provincial and local levels of government.
Andrews said there are some issues surrounding Ontario trades that are affecting people who are trying to find apprenticeship training as well as employers who are seeking apprentices.

Associate Publisher for the Ottawa Construction News

We've received dozens of resumes for a career opportunity with high five-figure income potential (and within a few years, solid six figure earnings and an equity stake) but still are loooking for the right person to be the Associate Publisher for Ottawa Construction News. You would also work with the Ontario Construction Report and the GOHBA Impact!

Why the (careful) search?


It isn't that the pre-stated qualifications for this career opportunity are too high. You won't need to work weekends, and evening work is one or two nights a month (for some industry association events). We aren't imposing particular educational requirements, and you don't need any sales experience to start.

And we guarantee a fair salary

At least $40,000 per year, possibly more at the start if your experience or initiative shows you are right for the work -- realistic income potential (within your first year of employment) is $60,000 to $90,000 per year.

But we haven't hired any of the hundreds of people who have sent in resumes so far . . . Why?

Because we are looking for someone seeking more than a 'job'; someone who appreciates that a resume and interview cannot tell the story, and who understands that effective selling is NOT ripping through call lists, bugging people with blind and thoughtless cold calls, and mechanically behaving like the horrible salespeople you've seen countless times in your life.

Rewarding work

So we need to assess for comfort and skill in a selling occupation; then, if you have these abilities, we'll show you how to stop 'selling' and start sharing. It's a whole lot more fun and makes each day a pleasure.

Age, gender, race (any of the stereotypes) don't matter.

You need to be able to understand and speak English clearly (this after all is a communications service), be comfortable working without close supervision, and have access to your own vehicle -- our clients are not often on convenient bus routes! And you need solid, verifiable references -- if you have skeletons in your closet, let us know about them right away or you won't be hired, no matter how good you seem, otherwise. It helps to be computer literate -- we are rebuilding our website and Internet-related marketing will be an important part of the business in the years ahead.

How to apply

Send an email to me at buckshon@cnrgp.com. You can get some information about the work at our careers blog. I'll respond with instructions on where to send your resume. We'll follow up with a questionnaire, and if you qualify, the thorough evaluation begins (we'll pay you for your time for the parts that require serious effort.) You can also call me at 613-224-3460 ext 224 and I'll do my best to return your call within two business days.

Mark Buckshon
President, Construction News and Report Group of Companies
buckshon@cnrgp.com

Blog: http://www.constructionmarketingideas.blogspot.com/

888-432-3555 ext 224.