RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:BIRD’s view of the business A little insight to Ron and others in this comment, spoken from that of a Skilled Tradesman, who has experience working several projects for Aecon and the like in most sectors they have their fingers in, including the Nukes.
"Construction is in a dire crises mode right now because many of the baby boomers are already retiring and there is not enough skilled trades coming into this field in Canada alone. There is a major recruitment happening to bring unskilled labour to Canada to help bridge that gap. It's a "train on the go" imo. No other choice when times get tough. "
For the most part, all the skilled trades are 'train on the go' no matter of the entry of the unskilled worker. To gain full certification in a trade your apprenticeship is done mostly with several years (3-5+) on the job training an intermittent 'classroom' instruction. Some entrance courses are offered to some trades like electricians, plumbers and others where more introductory background theory is involved, but there is an hours worked component to rise in ranking of both status and wages that is not skipped over.
One of the major issues in recruiting a tradesman is that like a "garbage collector" (a field which I have also experience in), many young people today do not aspire for such a career. For most entering apprenticeship, it was not their first choice but rather a fall back granted opportunity through nepotism or contact with someone offering them of the opportunity when $$$ was needed. There are efforts to get younger recruits exiting highschool, opening opportunities for the underprivileged/at risk youths who wouldn't have a contact for entrance and also converting military members upon exit of service, but for the most part they yeild limited interest.
It is very true immigration directly or recruitment from that pool of is becoming extreamly common, where as in the past it was rarer. This definitely is a positive development bred out of necessity, but that necessity is unlikely to cease. Retirement is a major drag, but also general exit of workers to other opportunities. Many of Aecon (and the likes) job site coordinators, safety personnel and other positions are plucked from the pool of experienced skilled tradesmen in their primes or past primes of thier careers. In the past it was more retirees or health related exits that took up these supervisory positions, but more recently those positions are being filled now buy younger parties looking to get 'off the tools' into more advantageous opportunities.
For many unionized skilled trades retirement ages have been increased due to funding shortfalls of pension requirements under past systems, but also the health in age of the blue collar worker has improved over time in many cases giving allowance to these step backs, along with the amplified need of experienced workers. There were points in the past where recessions caused workers to be unemployed for long periods of time and one way to increase turnover getting more opportunities to younger workers and those of need, allowed for older members to exit and collect earlier, many of these policies were sticky to be walked back upon, until funding earlier retirements became a major burden.
Also in addressing 'contractors taking on contracts' mention, in the past, many contractors (& sub-contractors) bid for all the work they could get, even if their profit margins were shrinking, volume over quality. But that mentality is starting to fade out as manpower shortages and needs to stretch it out have become more burdensome with more recent contract requirements and associated potential penalties for failure to achieve targets.
Nothing here is particularly actionable for most here, just some insight from a low man on the totem pole. :)