Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
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Labour

www.labour.gc.ca

Construction Industry Wage Rate Surveys

The Labour Program has contracted Statistics Canada to undertake the National Construction Industry Wage Rate Survey on a regular basis since 1999 to obtain recent, reliable and accurate information on the hourly wage rates paid to tradespeople in the construction industry. The Labour Program uses the survey results to develop the fair wage schedules included in federal construction tenders and contracts to guide contractor compliance to the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act and Regulations.

The Role of Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada has significant, world-class experience in gathering information and conducting statistical analysis to produce complex wage-related surveys. Industry consultations recognized Statistics Canada as the best agency to provide accurate and objective information while still ensuring the confidentiality of personal and company information.

Construction Industry Involvement

Prior to each survey, the Labour Program and Statistics Canada consult with a wide range of provincial construction associations and unions to:

  • outline the survey process;
  • obtain recommendations about which occupations to include in the survey;
  • discuss how to combine Statistics Canada Economic Regions to form fair wage zones;
  • hear about any industry issues that may impact the survey or its results; and
  • gather industry recommendations about how to conduct the survey and develop fair wage schedules, within the boundaries of both the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act and Regulations and statistical survey practices.

After the survey is completed, the results and draft fair wage schedules are distributed to members of the consultation groups for discussion and comment before the schedules are finalized.

The Survey Process

Statistics Canada relies on its business register to identify the construction companies it will survey. In provinces with large populations and more businesses, they survey a sample of the total number of construction companies having six or more employees. In provinces and territories where there are not enough such companies to produce an adequate sample, Statistics Canada conducts the survey as a census of all construction companies having six or more employees. The survey is carried out via telephone interviews using a standardized questionnaire, which was developed in consultation with the Labour Program and construction industry representatives in each province.

The survey collects information about:

  • the most frequently paid regular hourly wage rate
  • the highest regular hourly wage rate
  • the lowest regular hourly wage rate

paid to journeymen level trades workers for each of the selected occupations.

The survey is conducted according to Statistics Canada economic regions. When fewer than five companies provide data on any occupation, that data cannot be published for reasons of confidentiality. If a "most frequently paid" rate cannot be published at the level of a specific economic region, data from the closest region or regions is added until there are more than five companies contributing to the data. When a publishable rate cannot be obtained even when considering data from the entire province, that occupation does not appear in the survey results or the associated fair wage schedule.

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Date Modified:
2012-02-15