Key Takeaways
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Ontario’s construction industry needs an estimated 126,100 new workers by 2035 and even with strong recruitment, the industry could still face a shortfall of 27,300 workers, according to BuildForce Canada.
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There are more ways into construction than most people realize, from high school co-op programs to paid apprenticeships to full college degrees, and most of them cost little to nothing to start.
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A construction career is a ladder, not a single job, starting as a General Labourer and running through a skilled trade, Site Supervisor, Project Manager, and beyond.
This is also a look at how we build our own Krew: the training, safety standards, and hands-on growth that back up everything below, because a workforce gap this size isn't solved by posting a job ad.
Every year, Renokrew self-performs work across job sites in Toronto, Ottawa, and beyond, and every year, we see the same thing up close: this industry runs on people, and it needs more of them. Not eventually. Now.
This guide is written for two audiences at once. If you’re weighing a career in the trades, this is the real breakdown of how to get in and where it can take you. And if you’re a client or partner reading this to understand whom you’re building with, this is also a look at what we believe it takes to grow the next generation of this industry, and what we’re actually doing about it, not just what we say we value.
Why the Trades Need the Next Generation, Right Now
Construction in Ontario isn’t slowing down; the people building it are aging out faster than they’re being replaced. BuildForce Canada‘s 2026–2035 labour market forecast projects that by 2035, roughly 92,000 construction workers will retire from the industry. Combined with 34,100 more workers needed just to keep pace with growing demand, that puts Ontario’s total hiring need at 126,100 workers over the next decade.
Even with an expected 98,800 new workers under 30 entering the trades, the industry could still be short 27,300 people by 2035. That gap is an opportunity; for anyone willing to learn a trade, there has rarely been a better time to start.
Real Paths Into Construction
You don’t need a four-year degree to build a career in construction. Here are five real, verifiable ways in.
1. Start in High School
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) lets students in Grades 11 and 12 earn co-op credit toward their diploma while working real construction hours in a skilled trade. Students can be signed on as registered apprentices during their placement, meaning some Renokrew Krew members started their trade before they ever graduated high school. OYAP runs through individual school boards, so the right first step is talking to a co-op counsellor about which trades are available locally.
2. Get Paid to Learn
Skilled Trades Ontario is the province's official registry for apprenticeship, covering more than 140 skilled trades. Apprenticeships are paid positions from day one: you earn a wage while a licensed journeyperson trains you on the job, with no tuition debt at the end of it.
3. Wire Your Way In
For those drawn to electrical work, the Construction and Maintenance Electrician (309A) apprenticeship is a Red Seal trade requiring 9,000 hours, about five years, combining on-the-job experience with in-class training. In the Toronto area, this runs through IBEW Local 353 and the Electrical Apprentice Training Alliance. Apprentice wages increase every year of the program, and it's one of the more structured, well-documented paths in the trades.
4. Classroom and Job Site, Together
For anyone who wants a construction career on the management side, George Brown College's Honours Bachelor of Technology (Construction Management), program T312, is a four-year degree with a mandatory co-op field placement built in, meaning graduates leave with real project experience, not just theory. The next intake begins September 2026.
5. Room for Everyone on Site
Construction has long been a male-dominated industry, and organizations are actively working to change that. The Canadian Association of Women in Construction supports women building careers in construction through mentorship, leadership, community, and industry events. For anyone weighing whether this industry is “for them,” groups like this exist specifically to educate. Not sure which path fits? BuildForce Canada's free Career Finder tool matches your interests to construction trades and occupations, a good first stop for anyone who knows they want to work with their hands but isn't sure where to start.
Where This Career Can Take You
The trades aren’t a single job; they’re a ladder. Here’s what that ladder looks like on a Renokrew site, step by step:
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General Labourer: the starting point for most people who join us. You’re learning the site, the safety basics, and how the work actually comes together.
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Skilled Trade: carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC technician, and more, once you’re licensed or well into an apprenticeship.
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Site Supervisor: running the day-to-day on-site once you know the work inside and out.
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Project Manager: overseeing a build from planning through handover.
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Other Paths: estimating, field coordination, safety, equipment operation, and office or marketing roles for anyone who wants to stay in construction without staying on the tools.
Every rung on that ladder is a real, ongoing role at Renokrew, not a hypothetical next step. Where you end up depends on what you put in.
What We're Doing About It
Pointing people toward outside programs is only half of this. The other half is what Renokrew actually does, day to day, to grow the next generation of our own Krew, and what a client or partner is really backing when they choose to build with us.
We’re a family-run Krew, not a faceless staffing pipeline. When someone works hard and wants to grow, the people who run this company notice, and they make room.
Here’s what we’ve built:
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Founded in 1995, self-performing construction work across Ontario for three decades, which means we hire directly into the trades, not just around them.
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COR® certified (IHSA) and ISO 45001:2018 certified (DNV), backed by a safety program built to bring every worker home safe, every night.
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Great Place to Work® Certified, a third-party measure of how our own people rate working here.
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Toolbox talks before every shift, a real conversation on site about what could go wrong that day and how to prevent it.
We’re building the industry’s next generation on purpose: with hearts, hustle, and high standards.
Ready to Join the Krew?
Apply directly:
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Career page at renokrew.com
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Indeed
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Email: careers@renokrew.com
Don’t see the right role yet? Send your CV anyway. We’re growing, and we keep every resume on file for what’s next.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram (Renokrew) for new postings.
Contact us
Are you looking to upgrade your commercial asset or build out a complex tenant space in Ontario?
Let’s talk about how Renokrew can protect your investment and deliver exactly what you need.