Ontario's Residential Construction Sector Faces Job Decline and SDF Concerns
The residential construction sector in Ontario is facing challenges, with employment declining and jobs near me numbers lagging behind other provinces. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the politicization of the Skills Development Fund (SDF), which has seen large recipients include unions in the building and construction sector.
Ontario's residential construction employment has decreased by almost 10% in two years, with only 57,600 workers employed in June 2025. This decline is reflected in the number of residential construction jobs near me per 100,000 workers, which is second lowest among provinces, ahead of only Saskatchewan. The sector's growth is further hindered by low housing starts, with only 5,100 units started in August 2025, falling short of the promised 12,500 starts per month.
The politicization of the SDF has raised concerns, with the Auditor-General investigating reports of political meddling. Canadian Niagara Hotels, whose CEO is a donor to the Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party), received about $9 million in SDF grants, drawing criticism from Niagara College instructors. A $17 million SDF grant was approved for Amazon jobs after political intervention, training only 5,300 workers. To address the sector's challenges, Ontario could aim to match Quebec's residential construction jobs near me levels, which could add about 17,500 jobs, or even British Columbia's levels, which could add over 29,200 jobs.
Ontario's residential construction sector is in need of revitalization, with employment declining and housing starts falling short of targets. While the sector faces challenges, it also has the potential to create thousands of new jobs near me if it can match the job levels of other provinces. Meanwhile, concerns about the politicization of the SDF must be addressed to ensure the fund is used effectively to support the sector's growth.
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