7/24/2023 0 Comments House framer salary canadaWith the majority of businesses being small to medium size, there is often a low-wage ceiling. Many who are willing to make the sacrifice find limited opportunities. Once workers establish themselves in the trade and get accredited, they leave for a market where the wages are better.ĭavid Searle has worked in construction all across Canada, most recently on P.E.I. There are two issues that affect labour supply that come out of this situation.įirst, there is the brain drain effect that has been happening for decades. This difference is hidden if you look at wage averages across different experience levels. That wage is similar across the country, but the wages for those Red Seal-qualified workers is considerably lower on P.E.I. This means that the great majority of the construction workforce is composed of moderately-skilled labourers who earn between $15 and $20 per hour. The worker with Red Seal certification often acts as a manager and is responsible for all the work that is completed on site. You don't send in five seasoned carpenters to build a house it's one or two carpenters and a team of labourers. Labourers and skilled labour are the lifeblood of the construction industry. While this is true, the choice of sample jobs doesn't reflect how large the disparity can be for skilled labourers. Worker, supply shortages driving construction delays on P.E.I.This is a troubling trend during a housing crisis where property prices skyrocket and wages remain stagnant.įor example, a recent CBC article included this analysis: "The overall average hourly wage for the construction jobs investigated in Charlottetown was $21.73, 15 per cent below the average of $24.97 in the other seven cities." This idea that low wages are justified because of cheap living seems to have a bit of a death grip here.īy cherry-picking data, the industry and media can project a simplified version that makes Islanders look relatively better off than they really are. I've contracted, sub-contracted, employed and been employed, in many fields in the construction industry on both a residential and commercial level. I'm a 40-year-old, self-employed carpenter. I am speaking from experience of having worked in every mainland province in Canada, as well as the Northwest Territories. In my experience this isn't true, and I think it holds up an outdated idea that suppresses wages across the province in all industries. are lost with the associated increased cost of living. When the subject of wages comes up, there is a continuing narrative that claims any gains found outside of P.E.I. Many reasons have been put forward for this. There has been a lot of talk lately about labour shortages on P.E.I., particularly in construction. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ. This is a First Person column by construction worker David Searle.
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