Actively looking for skilled workers? You’re not alone.
The recruitment crisis is hitting a sector that generates $173M in Canadian GDP annually and employs over 1.6million people in Canada. Canada’s residential construction sector is facing unprecedented pressure: full order books, longer delays, postponed projects, but also a high retirement rate ( over the next decade, more than 270,000 construction workers, roughly 15% of the 2024 labour force, are expected to retire) coupled with an increased demand for construction workers (410,000 to 520,000 additional workers will be needed by 2030 to meet Canada’s housing and infrastructure ambitions).
Meanwhile, thousands of internationally trained newcomers (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, construction engineers, and more) are waiting for a way into the Canadian labour market.
An Underutilized Talent Pool
Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of skilled immigrants in construction trades. Yet many of them struggle to land their first job in the field, due to a lack of local networks or recognized Canadian experience. The result: lost talent, while job sites are short-handed.
The Building Green program tackles this paradox head-on. Participants already hold international post-secondary or vocational training. They are motivated, available, and ready to integrate into your team.
Building Green: A Program Built for Contractors
Partially funded by the Government of Canada under the Foreign Credential Recognition Program and administered by ECO Canada, the Building Green: Newcomer Careers in Residential Construction program was designed to connect construction companies with skilled immigrant workers — and to share the financial risk of hiring.
Here’s what that means for you as an employer:
- 75% of wages reimbursed, up to $20,500
- Up to $2,000 additional to cover training or integration support needs
- Placements from 3 to 12 months, full-time
You hire professionals with internationally recognized training in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, HVAC/R, roofing, welding, heavy equipment, or construction management (see the full list in the eligibility criteria on the program page: Building Green: Newcomer Careers in Residential Construction).
Simple and Fast.
Here’s how to apply:
- You apply online and receive pre-approval.
- You recruit from pre-screened candidates or browse our job board with 30,000+ résumés.
- You sign contracts within 15 days of issuance.
- You receive your wage subsidy throughout the placement by completing simple progress reports.
No excessive administrative hassle — and the assurance of ECO Canada team support at every step.
The Time to Act Is Now!
The program is available across Quebec. Ready to apply for funding?
Start here: Building Green: Newcomer Careers in Residential Construction
For any questions, contact the ECO Canada team at: pathways@eco.ca
