THERE ARE MORE THAN 370,000 COMPANIES in the Canadian construction industry today.

Although over 1.5 million Canadians work in construction, the large number of entrepreneurs in the industry means that the average company size is quite small. More than 60% of construction employers have less than five employees.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Canadian construction industry employs over 1.5 million people (that’s 1 in 13 people) – more than almost any other industry in Canada.

There are many different types of construction companies that you could work for:

  • General contractors usually work with landowners or companies that want to build a structure. They act as the primary contractor on projects that involve a range of specialized construction activities, which are often sub-contracted out.
  • Design-builders are similar to general contractors, but they provide architectural and engineering designs as well as construction.
  • Construction managers oversee and schedule construction for their clients.
  • Speculative builders, operative builders or merchant builders construct buildings they plan to sell – like houses or apartment buildings.
  • Trade contractors deal with specific parts of a project such as masonry, painting or electrical work. They can work under contract with a primary (general) contractor, or directly with a property owner for renovation and repairs.

Find out what trades employers will be looking for in your province.

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