Contractors at a site on Woodbridge Drive. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

LABOUR SHORTAGES

Local construction companies dealing with shortages of apprentice workers

Jul 15, 2022 | 11:18 AM

Many industries in the province are feeling the effects of supply chain issues and a lack of workers, that includes construction companies.

But according to the Prince Albert Construction Association (PACA), the biggest hurdle they’re facing is not having enough apprentice workers.

“It seems like labourers are a little easier to come by and certainly well-experienced journeymen, but not the ones that are in the middle of that. That’s true of pretty much any trade,” said PACA president Dan Yungwirth.

Yungwirth added this can become especially challenging when you look at the fact that Prince Albert is competing with just about every other community when it comes to finding workers for projects.

“We’re not really able to draw workers here from Saskatoon, Shellbrook, or La Ronge because all of those communities are also busy, so people just want to stay put.”

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In an email to paNOW, The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) said so far, apprenticeship numbers have stayed steady over the past year.

“We haven’t yet experienced any significant growth – we also haven’t observed a decline in our apprenticeship numbers,” the statement reads.

“As of June 30, 2021, the end of our 2020-21 fiscal year, there were just over 6,000 (6,027) apprentices registered in Saskatchewan. As of April 30, 2022, we were sitting at nearly 6,200 apprentices (6,198). So that’s a three per cent increase over a 10-month period.”

The SATCC goes on to say that many apprentices who go to technical training contracted by the SATCC are already working in their trade.

For Yungwirth and the businesses in PACA, they’re still working hard over the summer despite the challenges they face.

“Supply chain is a big challenge for us and for owners of construction projects and we’re seeing ourselves really work hard on that and deliver projects on time and the best we can with the quality that everybody expects,” he said. “The labour shortage isn’t helping with that but we’re doing the best that we can.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock