Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) – part of the solution Canadian Home Builders’ Association NETAC Meeting June 6, 2008 Ottawa, Ontario

Workforce Realities Employment & Labour Force, Construction Industry, Canada CSC trades / occupation are 70% of the Construction Industry Source: Statistics Canada and Construction Sector Council (Preliminary)

Workforce Realities Source: Statistics Canada and Construction Sector Council (Preliminary) Net Employment Change & Construction Retirements Canada, , ,000 50,000 70,000 90, , , , , ,000 Net Employment GainTotal Retirements 295,000 workers need to be recruited and trained by 2016

Workforce Realities Source: Statistics Canada and Construction Sector Council (Preliminary) Cumulative Construction Workforce Retirements as % of 2007 Workforce,

Workforce Realities Source: Statistics Canada and Construction Sector Council (Preliminary) Cumulative Retirements as % of 2007 Workforce, Construction Managers,

Workforce Realities Source: Statistics Canada and Construction Sector Council (Preliminary) Cumulative Retirements as % of 2007 Workforce, Contractors & Supervisors,

Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) – part of the solution

TFWs – part of the solution Immigration programs that target skilled workers:  Economic Immigrant Program includes both skilled worker class and business class immigrantsincludes both skilled worker class and business class immigrants not a significant source of supply of workers in the skilled trades for construction industry - related to the point scoring system  Provincial Nominee Program operates under bilateral agreements between the federal government and provincial governments and involves provinces to a greater degree in the selection of immigrants.operates under bilateral agreements between the federal government and provincial governments and involves provinces to a greater degree in the selection of immigrants. nomination through this process removes the necessity to meet CIC point screening requirementsnomination through this process removes the necessity to meet CIC point screening requirements  Temporary Foreign Worker Program applicants are allowed temporary entry into Canada if they have an offer for work, meet the usual visitor requirements, intend to stay in Canada only temporarily, and have the skills and qualifications needed to perform the work.

TFWs – part of the solution Immigration programs that target skilled workers (cont’d) :  Canadian Experience Class (CEC)  CEC will facilitate the transition from temporary status to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and international students with Canadian degrees and Canadian work experience  For Temporary Foreign Workers - workers who hold a secondary school diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and have a least two years of recent (i.e. within three years preceding the application for CEC) full-time Canadian skilled work experience  Applicants will be selected if they meet the parameters noted above, have legally come to Canada to work or study, have valid temporary status in Canada at the time of application, and have moderate official language proficiency

TFWs – part of the solution  TFW study provided an opportunity to examine the entire process that involves a number of stakeholder  Describe the scope of the TFW program  Identify entry points, process, organizations involved, and roles they play in bringing workers into Canada  Describe work preparedness steps  Identify gaps in services and supports  Determine what is working well and what needs improving

TFWs – part of the solution  Key government players in the TFW process :  Human Resources & Social Development Canada  Labour market opinion prepared by Service Canada  Citizenship and Immigration Canada  Applications for work permits & issues temporary resident visas  Canada Border Services  Screen workers & issues work permits  Provincial Apprenticeship Authorities  Assessing foreign credentials & experience

TFWs – part of the solution  TFWs are part of how the construction industry is meeting short term demand:  Temporary foreign workers are currently filling critical human resource gaps within the Canadian construction industry  Being utilized as a provincial / territorial / regional solution to meet demand for construction services and resulting from growing retirement rates  Study revealed that TFWs are meeting peak demand needs, especially in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario

TFWs – part of the solution  Only a small proportion of TFWs work in construction  In 2005, just under 100,000 TFWs came into Canada for all sectors of the economy  In 2006, 165,000  In 2005, just over 3,000 of those TFWs worked in occupations related to construction  3% of all TFWs worked in construction

TFWs – part of the solution TFWs are small part of total construction workforce  Number of TFWs in the Canadian construction industry almost doubled between 2004 and from 1,765 to 3,056  Growing tends – recent numbers for Alberta show dramatic and exponential growth  In 2005, total construction labour force was just over 1 million workers - in that same year, new TFW work permits issued for construction work was just over 3,000  This was less than half of 1% of workforce

TFWs – part of the solution  Considerable investment bringing TFWs into Canada - borne by the industry (employer and labour groups) and the TFW  Estimates range between $12,000 to $18,000 to bring in a TFW  Anecdotal information from industry interviews  Examples include industry time and effort of navigating through a complex system and the hard costs borne by the TFW applying for a work permit and cost of recruiters

TFWs – part of the solution  In 2005, Construction industry TFWs were concentrated in three provinces  Ontario – 1,009  British Columbia – 882  Alberta – 749  All other provinces – 815  TFW highly utilized in provinces with highest concentration of construction activity

TFWs – part of the solution Top Occupations in Alberta Work Permits Granted in 2005

TFWs – part of the solution Top Occupations in British Columbia Work Permits Granted in 2005

TFWs – part of the solution Top Occupations in Ontario Work Permits Granted in 2005

TFWs – part of the solution  Alberta has seen exponential growth in the use of the TFW program for construction in 2006 and 2007  Modest increases in Ontario and British Columbia Labour Market Opinions 2004 Approved 2005 Approved 2006 Approved May 2007 Approved May 2007 Pending Alberta 3861,3263,8013,1354,697 British Columbia 9681,9461,4131, Ontario 1,4972,2022,4461,251234

TFWs – part of the solution  4,851 TFWs worked in the Canadian construction industry in 2004/2005  4,351 came from a total of 20 countries  Over 50%, 2,553 of these workers came from just four countries: 1,366 – United States 439 – United Kingdom 439 – Philippines Germany

TFWs – part of the solution INSTITUTIONAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS Occupation Top Countries of Last Permanent Residence Industrial Electrician Italy, Philippines, Norway, Estonia Steamfitters / Pipefitter United States, Philippines, United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland Boilermaker China, United States Ironworkers United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, South Africa, India Skilled Welders United States, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Philippines, Thailand Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics United States, Germany Power System Electricians United States Millwright / Industrial MechanicsUnited States, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia Crane Operator United States, United Kingdom, Costa Rica Heavy Equipment Operators United States, Costa Rica, Germany, United Kingdom Glazers Netherlands RECRUITMENT SOURCE COUNTRIES

TFWs – part of the solution NEW HOME BUILDING AND RENOVATION OCCUPATIONS Occupation Top Countries of Last Permanent Residence Carpenter United States, Germany, Romania, Switzerland Bricklayer Portugal, Germany, Moldova, United States, United Kingdom Tilesetter United States, Uruguay, Germany, Estonia, France, Korea Roofer/ Shingler Portugal, United States, Norway, Serbia/Montenegro, United Kingdom Insulators United States Painter/ Decorator United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal Floor Installer United States, United Kingdom, Norway Plasterer/Drywaller United States, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Norway Residential/ Commercial Installer Slovak Republic, United States, Finland, Poland, Denmark Trade Helpers/ Labourers Mexico, United States, Philippines, India RECRUITMENT SOURCE COUNTRIES

TFWs – part of the solution CROSS-SECTORAL OCCUPATIONS Occupation Top Countries of Last Permanent Residence Plasterers, Drywallers, Finishers Poland, United States, Norway, Serbia/Montenegro, United Kingdom Electrician Italy, Philippines, Norway, Estonia Plumber United States, Philippines, United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland Elevator Constructors United States Concrete Finisher China, United States Refrigeration Mechanic United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, South Africa, India Other Trades Helpers & Labourers United States, Philippines RECRUITMENT SOURCE COUNTRIES

TFWs – part of the solution CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OCCUPATIONS Occupation Top Countries of Last Permanent Residence Construction ManagersUnited States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden CONTRACTORS AND SUPERVISORS Electrical TradesUnited States, United Kingdom Pipefitting TradesUnited States, South Africa Metal Forming, ShapingUnited States Carpentry TradesUnited States Mechanic TradesUnited States, Italy Heavy Construction EquipmentUnited States, Germany, Austria, Germany Other Construction TradesUnited States, Japan, Netherlands, Austria, United Kingdom RECRUITMENT SOURCE COUNTRIES

TFWs – part of the solution  Successes:  High quality of foreign workers are meeting labour requirements - - anecdotal from interviews  Federal governments openness to work with industry to ensure program relevance in meeting labour market needs  Flexibility of the program in the range of TFWs entering  Employer awareness of the program is growing  Federal / provincial cooperation  Working groups on TFW (Alberta and British Columbia)

TFWs – part of the solution  Challenges:  Construction is a small business community  80 % of contractors have less than 15 employees  No Human Resource Departments  TFW system is complex and requires expertise to navigate  Certain amount of misinformation and misconceptions circulating, in part a result of a rapidly changing situation  Different perspectives on how well it is working  Many stakeholders want more monitoring and enforcement  Government human resources insufficient to meet increased demands

TFWs – part of the solution  Services and Support Gaps  Clear, accurate, up-to-date information  Ongoing efforts needed to adjust the Canadian immigration system  Support to small and medium-sized firms  Increased effective reporting, monitoring and enforcement  Support for worker rights and responsibilities  Partnerships with Immigrant Serving Agencies

TFWs – part of the solution  Next Steps.... TFW Web Guide for Industry  CSC is developing web based guide to help industry navigate through the TFW process  Describe the TFWs Human Resource (HR) process: Job Analysis, Recruitment, Selection, Job Offer, Orientation and Integration, and Retention  Highlight roles played by multiple bodies – labour unions, employers, construction associations, governments  Checklist to make sure that you have not missed anything  Provide a number of resources – phone line inquiries and links to web sites – which can help you get answers to any other questions

TFWs – part of the solution  Next Steps.... TFW Web Guide for Workers  Overview of the Construction Industry in Canada  Types of Jobs in Construction  Foreign Credential Recognition  Apprenticeship Training System  Finding a Job  Coming to Canada oVisas, Applying for a Work Permit, Medical and Health Insurance etc...  Rights and Responsibilities  Orientation and Integration  Staying In Canada  Useful Resources

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