As we entered 2025, contractors had a lot on their mind – a second term for President Donald Trump, a possible (now realized) trade war with the US, a federal leadership campaign and a provincial election. All this noise raises political and economic uncertainty in addition to the day-to-day concerns and challenges of operating a construction company.

Given this environment, it is unsurprising that we see some cracks emerging in contractors’ outlook for 2025 with an equal share of contractors expecting more work as those anticipating less. However, two-thirds of contractors are still positive about the future of Ontario’s construction industry pointing to significant government investment and a large number of upcoming and current projects. The industry’s resilience and adaptability will aid contractors as they navigate the adoption of new technologies, shifting demographics and an evolving political environment.