Every year, people, businesses, and government entities in Canada spend a total of more than $11 billion on industrial building construction! On top of that, this industry grows at a rate of about 5.4% every single year. Combine that with the market for residential construction, and you get some sense of the scope of the construction industry in Canada.
Of course, an industry of this size has a great variety in the types of available jobs. The best construction jobs Canada has available include options that appeal to people looking for very different kinds of work.
But what exactly are these types of construction jobs? Read on to learn all about the different construction jobs you can find in Canada and which one might be right for you!
We use the simple term “construction industry.” However, that gives the illusion that the industry is a monolith. In fact, it is actually extremely complicated.
This industry includes jobs that consist almost entirely of management with very little work in construction per se. It also includes jobs with plenty of hands-on labor, and everything in between.
That means that no matter what kind of job you are looking for, there is a good chance that something in the construction industry will appeal to you.
One of the most important types of construction jobs is the pre-construction category. This section of construction jobs includes positions like pre-construction manager.
Pre-construction managers mainly work with clients. They manage a lot of paperwork and prepare things for project managers to take over.
On the low end, this position pays $100,000 per year. With experience, pre-construction managers can sometimes end up making $180,000 per year.
On the other end of the spectrum, pre-construction jobs also include positions like estimators. Estimators sometimes make only about $60,000 per year when they first start out. However, under the right circumstances, they can make as much as $160,000 each year.
As their name suggests, estimators try to figure out how everything related to a construction project will cost.
Sometimes that means figuring out the total cost of a project. In other cases, it means calculating just the cost of a single piece of a project, like the foundation.
A basic project manager will help plan a construction project. They also help design the construction approach to keep costs down.
Project managers are often responsible for making sure that projects stay under budget. They often end up working with clients and subcontractors. That means that they need to develop a certain proficiency in social skills.
They can make anywhere between $90,000 and $160,000 per year. With experience, a project manager may become a senior project manager or projects director.
People with this title will often manage multiple projects at the same time. They will also oversee other project managers. They help them succeed at staying under budget and otherwise managing their projects.
The site management category of construction jobs includes positions like the site superintendent. This kind of job is much more technical. People often achieve this position after working in trades for a significant amount of time.
They manage the operations on-site of a construction project. They make between $90,000 and $180,000 per year.
As managers, they may have some cause to develop social skills, but their technical savvy is of primary importance. This category of construction jobs also includes positions like a foreman.
They will often assist the superintendent in managing larger projects that require extra management.
Site management also includes positions like certified safety officer. They can make anywhere between $70,000 and $130,000 each year. They may have a background either in health and safety itself or in a construction trade.
Commercial management positions include contracts manager. They often work on infrastructure projects and help form contracts and organized administration work. They can make between $80,000 and $150,000 per year.
General commercial managers help project managers on large commercial projects. This role is becoming more common in Canada, but it’s still not very common. For those positions that exist, the salary is often between $120,000 and $180,000 per year.
Some people get into construction excited to work on certain types of projects while holding a certain kind of position. Unfortunately, they are sometimes disappointed to discover that their desired job title is not very common in Canada.
For example, quantity surveyors are not a very common position in Canada. In other countries, they focus their efforts on cost control and commercial management.
However, that work is done by people with other job titles in Canada. However, people who already have experience as quantity surveyors can often find work as project managers. Other jobs that are not very common in Canada include site agents and project engineers.
Curious to know what the day-to-day as a construction worker in Canada looks like? Check out this vlog below chronicling a typical day on the building site.
We hope learning about the types of construction jobs Canada has to offer has been helpful for you. Many people are interested in getting into construction but are unsure about their job prospects. Understanding the job opportunities out there can help people decide if they wish to pursue a career in this industry.
Now you know what kind of construction jobs are available in Canada, why not take the next step and read about what you need to do to get hired for one of these jobs.
To learn more about available jobs in the construction industry or to talk to experts in construction job recruitment, feel free to apply for one of our vacancies or submit your resume.
