24 Skilled Trades Shortage Statistics for Ontario Homeowners (2026)
Cited data on how many Ontario construction workers retire by 2035, the hiring gap BuildForce Canada projects, how many apprentices are in training, and what carpenters and handymen earn and do in Ontario.
Ontario construction could face a shortfall of 27,300 workers by 2035, according to BuildForce Canada, as 92,000 workers retire while renovation and new-home demand grows. A skilled trades shortage means fewer qualified carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople than the work needs. The 24 statistics below cover Ontario retirements and hiring, regional growth, the national picture, apprentice numbers, and carpenter and handyman data. If you have a project to book, start with our handyman services or the best general contractors in Toronto.
BuildForce Canada figures come from its 2026 to 2035 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward releases of July 20, 2026. Job Bank wages are in CAD. All sources were checked on October 24, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- 92,000 Ontario construction workers could retire by 2035 (BuildForce Canada).
- Ontario needs to hire 126,100 workers by 2035, and could still be 27,300 short (BuildForce Canada).
- Ontario residential construction jobs rise 11% by 2035, led by new housing and renovation (BuildForce Canada).
- 135,000 residential workers could retire across Canada by 2035, more than one-fifth of the sector (BuildForce Canada).
- Ontario has more than 96,000 active apprentices (Skilled Trades Ontario).
- 35% of Ontario carpenters are self-employed, against 15% of all workers (Job Bank).
How many trades workers will Ontario lose to retirement?
As many as 92,000 Ontario construction workers are projected to retire by 2035, says BuildForce Canada. Add the 34,100 workers needed to keep pace with demand, and the industry faces hiring requirements of 126,100 workers. Recruiting 98,800 workers under 30 covers most of that, but leaves a potential gap of 27,300.
1. 92,000 Ontario construction workers could retire by 2035
BuildForce Canada says an aging labour force could complicate Ontario's outlook, with as many as 92,000 workers projected to exit the industry due to retirement by 2035 (BuildForce Canada).
2. Demand adds 34,100 more workers
On top of retirements, Ontario construction needs an additional 34,100 workers to keep pace with increasing demand over the 2026 to 2035 forecast period (BuildForce Canada).
3. Ontario must hire 126,100 workers by 2035
Retirements plus growth give Ontario construction hiring requirements of 126,100 workers by 2035, according to the same release (BuildForce Canada).
4. 98,800 young workers are expected to join
BuildForce expects Ontario to recruit 98,800 new-entrant workers under the age of 30 from within the province over the forecast period (BuildForce Canada).
5. Ontario could still be 27,300 workers short
Even with those new entrants, BuildForce says the industry could face a potential shortfall of 27,300 workers by 2035. It calls for recruitment from under-represented groups, workers from other industries and underemployed Canadians to close the gap (BuildForce Canada).
6. Women hold 6% of Ontario construction trades jobs
About 76,880 women worked in Ontario construction in 2025, and 33% of them worked on site. Of the 442,300 tradespeople in the industry, women made up 6% (BuildForce Canada).
7. Indigenous workers are 3.5% of the labour force
Indigenous Peoples made up 3.5% of Ontario's construction labour force in 2025, above their 2.2% share of the provincial labour force as a whole (BuildForce Canada).
Where is Ontario residential work growing fastest?
Ontario residential construction employment is projected to rise 11% by 2035 compared with 2025, with the biggest gains in new housing and residential renovation, says BuildForce Canada. It projects that renovation and maintenance investment will rise continuously over the forecast. Central Ontario, which includes Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo, grows fastest.
8. Ontario residential construction jobs rise 11% by 2035
BuildForce projects province-wide residential construction employment 11% above 2025 levels by 2035, and non-residential employment 5% higher. It says investment in residential renovations and maintenance is projected to rise continuously (BuildForce Canada).
9. Central Ontario residential jobs rise 21%
In Central Ontario, BuildForce expects residential employment to rise 21% and non-residential 11% by 2034, with strong demand for residential renovations after 2027 (BuildForce Canada).
10. GTA residential jobs rise 5%
In the Greater Toronto Area, construction contracted in 2025 amid high costs, slower population growth and unsold condos. BuildForce projects GTA residential employment up 5% and non-residential up 4% compared with 2025, with residential investment returning to growth after 2028 (BuildForce Canada).
Source: BuildForce Canada. Central Ontario figure is to 2034, others to 2035.
How big is the trades gap across Canada?
Canadian construction employs 1.6 million people, about one in every 13 working Canadians, and accounts for 7% of national GDP, says BuildForce Canada. Nationally, the industry needs to hire 306,200 workers by 2034 and may face a shortage of as many as 34,300 even with heightened recruitment.
11. Construction employs 1.6 million Canadians
BuildForce chair Warren Douglas says construction accounts for 7% of Canada's GDP and employs 1.6 million people, or about one in every 13 working Canadians (BuildForce Canada).
12. 135,000 residential workers could retire by 2035
The Canadian Home Builders' Association says the 135,000 workers projected to retire by 2035 represent more than one-fifth of the residential sector's current labour force (BuildForce Canada).
13. Canada must hire 306,200 construction workers by 2034
Demand growth requires the national construction labour force to expand by 32,100 workers. Added to retirements, the overall hiring requirement reaches 306,200 workers by 2034 (BuildForce Canada).
14. The national shortage could reach 34,300 workers
About 271,900 new entrants under 30 are expected to join, but BuildForce says the industry may still face a shortage of as many as 34,300 workers by 2034 (BuildForce Canada).
15. Construction unemployment is back to 5% to 6%
BuildForce vice-chair Graham Polischuk says the industry's average unemployment rate is returning to a more traditional 5% to 6%, driven in part by a contracting labour force. National residential employment is projected to dip 4% below 2025 levels by the end of the decade, with losses only in new housing (BuildForce Canada).
How many apprentices are training in Ontario?
Ontario has more than 96,000 active apprentices, says Skilled Trades Ontario, the provincial body that registers apprentices and issues certificates. From 2023 to 2026, it signed 60,750 training agreements with first-time apprentices and awarded 30,546 Certificates of Apprenticeship. A general carpenter apprenticeship takes about four years.
16. Ontario has more than 96,000 active apprentices
Skilled Trades Ontario built its July 2026 apprentice toolkit for the province's more than 96,000 active apprentices (Skilled Trades Ontario).
17. 60,750 first-time apprentices signed on from 2023 to 2026
Skilled Trades Ontario's 2026 to 2029 strategic plan counts 60,750 registered training agreements signed by first-time apprentices over 2023 to 2026 (Skilled Trades Ontario).
18. 30,546 apprentices completed their programs
Over the same period, it awarded 30,546 Certificates of Apprenticeship and issued 23,297 Certificates of Qualification to completed apprentices who passed their certifying exams (Skilled Trades Ontario).
19. 20,832 Red Seal certificates were granted
Skilled Trades Ontario granted 20,832 Red Seal endorsed Certificates of Qualification from 2023 to 2026, and has administered more than 15,200 certifying exams since April 2025 (Skilled Trades Ontario).
20. A carpenter apprenticeship takes 7,200 hours
The General Carpenter apprenticeship is set at 7,200 hours, about four years: 6,480 hours on the job and 720 hours in school. General Carpenter is a Red Seal trade (Skilled Trades Ontario).
What do carpenters and handymen look like in Ontario?
About 39,200 people work as carpenters in Ontario, says Job Bank, and 35% of them are self-employed. The median carpenter wage is $32.00 an hour in Ontario and $36.00 in the Toronto Region. Job Bank rates carpenter prospects as moderate for 2025 to 2027, and the same for handymen and building maintenance workers.
21. 39,200 Ontarians work as carpenters
Job Bank counts about 39,200 carpenters in Ontario, 85% of them in construction. Men make up more than 95% of the occupation, and 26% hold an apprenticeship or trades certificate (Job Bank).
22. 35% of Ontario carpenters are self-employed
Job Bank says 35% of Ontario carpenters are self-employed, compared with 15% across all occupations. Half work all year and half only part of the year, and Job Bank notes more work in spring and summer (Job Bank).
23. Toronto carpenters earn a median $36.00 an hour
Job Bank lists a median carpenter wage of $32.00 an hour in Ontario, $36.00 in the Toronto Region and $30.00 in Hamilton-Niagara, for 2023 to 2024. That is worker pay, not the rate a company bills (Job Bank).
Source: Job Bank, Carpenter wages in Ontario.
24. 32,900 Ontarians work as handymen and building maintenance workers
Job Bank counts about 32,900 general building maintenance workers and building superintendents, the occupation that includes handymen, in Ontario. Prospects are moderate for 2025 to 2027, with several positions opening from retirements (Job Bank).
What this means for homeowners
- Book early: Ontario still projects a 27,300 worker gap by 2035, and renovation demand is projected to rise every year to then.
- Check credentials. Ask about trade certificates, WSIB clearance and insurance, since many carpenters work as sole operators. Our carpenter statistics and general contractor statistics go deeper.
- Budget with real numbers. See our general contractor cost guide and handyman cost guide for GTA rates.
- Compare vetted pros on our lists of the best general contractors in Markham and the best handymen in Toronto.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros who give free written estimates. Request an estimate or browse our service areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a skilled trades shortage in Ontario?
BuildForce Canada projects that Ontario construction could need 126,100 new workers by 2035, as 92,000 retire and demand adds 34,100 jobs. Even after recruiting 98,800 workers under 30 from within the province, it sees a potential shortfall of 27,300 workers by 2035.
How many construction workers will retire in Ontario?
BuildForce Canada says as many as 92,000 Ontario construction workers are projected to exit the industry due to retirement by 2035. Across Canada, the Canadian Home Builders' Association says 135,000 residential construction workers are projected to retire by 2035, more than one-fifth of the current residential labour force.
How many apprentices are there in Ontario?
Skilled Trades Ontario says the province has more than 96,000 active apprentices, as of its July 2026 toolkit launch. Its strategic plan counts 60,750 training agreements signed by first-time apprentices and 30,546 Certificates of Apprenticeship awarded from 2023 to 2026.
Does the trades shortage make renovations cost more?
The sources here do not measure prices directly. They show rising residential renovation demand in Ontario and an aging workforce, which can mean longer waits for busy firms. Getting two or three written quotes early, and booking outside peak spring and summer months, gives you more choice.
How can I find a contractor when trades are busy?
Pro House Maintenance is free for homeowners. You describe the job once, and we match you with vetted, licensed and insured local pros who give free written estimates. You compare the quotes and choose who to hire, with no obligation to book.