According to the final data compiled by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), 2007 ends with a solid performance in the construction industry, with an annual volume of work of 126.4 million hours, or 2% higher than in 2006. This volume breaks a 30-year record, with 137,450 employees working on sites during the year, also the highest level since 1977.
This growth in volume of work over the entire year is due mainly to the strong activity in the last quarter of 2007. Taking a closer look at the CCQ data, 34.6 million hours worked were reported in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to 32.2 million hours worked for the same period in 2006, for a 7% increase.
Looking at 2007 as a whole, the institutional and commercial sector ranked first in terms of growth (+ 6%), with a total volume of hours worked of 63.1 million. The residential sector also had a strong year; its growth rate of 4% surpassed predictions and brought its number of hours worked to 27.1 million. At the same time, the 23.6 million hours worked in civil engineering and roadwork added up to a rise of 2%; however, the 12.5 million hours worked in industrial construction translated into a considerable drop of 16% compared to 2006.
Significant rises were also seen in three other regions in 2007. The volume of work in the Outaouais region leapt by 25%, thanks to work linked to the project interconnecting electrical lines with Ontario and to institutional and commercial construction. In Abitibi–Témiscamingue, activity climbed by 17%, stimulated by mining projects. Finally, Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean reported a gain of 9%, mostly due to construction of Rio Tinto Alcan’s brasque-treatment plant.
Elsewhere in the province, the volume of work in Mauricie–Bois-Francs dropped by 6% in 2007 compared to 2006, due to completion of work on the ABI plant and TransCanada Energy’s thermal power plant. Similarly, the Québec City region posted a slight drop, 1%, due to completion of Ultramar’s desulfurization plant.
The Bas-St-Laurent–Gaspésie and Estrie regions had slight increases in 2007, by 2% and 3%, respectively, supported by practically all sectors. Finally, activity in Greater Montréal and the Côte-Nord remained stable in comparison to 2006. In Greater Montréal, the drop in industrial construction impeded growth, while on the Côte-Nord, a decreased activity in the civil engineering and roadwork sector counterbalanced the rise in other sectors.
For the next three years, the CCQ estimates that almost 14,000 new workers will be needed annually to deal with the growth in activity and departures for various reasons, including retirement.
For more details, consult the Revue de l'activité économique dans l'industrie de la construction and La construction en région.