I think the shortage of skilled construction labor is a huge problem in the US too. I have heard from general contractors and tradespeople that the trades have

I think the shortage of skilled construction labor is a huge problem in the US too. I have heard from general contractors and tradespeople that the trades have a big shortfall in the talent pipeline that is getting worse. I can only imagine the situation is worse in Canada since the immigration system favors people with tertiary degrees. We need to figure out how to incentivize people to choose skilled manual labor as a career. As it is the rewards don't compare with a career spent in an office even if the pay in the office is lower. That's because the office work is more pleasant and the career likely longer due to less wear and tear on the body. Public safety employees (police and firefighters) have early retirements because their jobs are physically demanding. If we don't figure out a way to guarantee early retirements for people with physically demanding jobs in the private sector, young workers with options will continue to avoid them. And the houses that everyone knows we need most of all won't get built.