Ontario’s construction sector in 2025 saw rising unemployment and a modest decline in employment, despite a larger labour force. The workforce continues to be concentrated among core working-age individuals, with limited participation from younger workers and women.

In 2025, Ontario’s construction labour market experienced an increase in unemployment, rising to 6.6% from 5.3% in 2024. This marks the highest unemployment rate in the sector since 2021 and reflects a broader trend seen across all industries. The total construction labour force reached 618,200 in 2025, an increase of 7,200 workers compared to the previous year. Despite this growth in labour force participation, total employment declined slightly, with 1,400 fewer workers employed than in 2024.

The construction workforce in 2025 was largely made up of individuals aged 25 to 54, who accounted for approximately 69% of the total workforce. Workers aged 55 and above represented about 19%, while young entrants aged 15 to 24 made up 12.7% of the workforce.

Women accounted for 13.1% of the construction workforce in 2025, a slight decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the previous year. This remains significantly lower than the overall labour market, where women represent approximately 47% of total employment across all industries.

Gargi Bharti
Economic and Research Project Lead

Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)
180 Attwell Drive, Suite 360, Toronto, ON M9W 6A9
Phone: 416.620.5210
gbharti@iciconstruction.com