Ontario’s industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) construction sector has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, fueled by major transit expansions, energy investments, healthcare infrastructure, manufacturing reshoring, and large-scale institutional projects.
At the same time, the industry continues to navigate significant challenges, including skilled labour shortages, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States.
In this episode of OCS Talks, host Brian Barron is joined by Bob Collins and Irwin Bess from BuildForce Canada to explore what lies ahead for Ontario’s construction industry.
Together, they unpack how BuildForce develops its construction forecasts, the key economic and project data shaping Ontario’s ICI outlook, and where investment activity is expected to grow over the next decade. They also discuss labour market pressures, the impact of public infrastructure funding, the reliability of long-term forecasting, and the major projects poised to influence construction demand across the province.
Whether you're a contractor, employer, union representative, policymaker, or industry professional, this conversation offers valuable insights into the trends shaping Ontario’s construction future.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Introduction
01:50 – About BuildForce Canada
06:58 – Key data inputs driving Ontario’s ICI forecast
10:20 – How smaller projects are incorporated into forecasting models
12:20 – Major project lists, active projects, and watch lists
16:15 – How reliable are 10-year construction forecasts?
20:20 – What’s different about the market outlook compared to recent years?
23:28 – Which sectors are driving the strongest demand?
27:19 – The role of public funding in market stability
31:10 – Navigating uncertainty in the construction industry
36:00 – How BuildForce measures labour shortages
43:00 – Trade and occupation pressure rankings
46:12 – Key projects to watch in the years ahead
Call to Action:
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Have a question, topic suggestion, or guest recommendation? Contact us at [email protected] or visit iciconstruction.com for the latest research, news, and industry resources.
Tags & Keywords:
Ontario construction, ICI construction, Ontario ICI sector, BuildForce Canada, construction forecast, labour shortages, skilled trades, workforce development, infrastructure investment, construction employment, transit projects, manufacturing reshoring, public infrastructure, commercial construction, industrial construction, institutional construction, Ontario economy, construction trends, major projects, construction workforce, unions, contractors, labour market, construction planning, OCS Talks
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