Imagine for a moment the thoughts of a recent enrollee at a community college who is considering a career in a skilled trade like welding, plumbing, electrical or carpentry. On one hand, they’re encouraged that the high demand for construction workers has employers clamouring.
Then they look at what awaits on a commercial, institutional, or residential worksite — images of site excavation, materials being moved by ‘man and machine’, concrete being poured and steel beams being hoisted into position. It looks rugged. As much as they might wish to pursue a chosen trade, the environment doesn’t look particularly appealing.
Many in the industry recognise that among younger people there exists “a stigma against the construction industry”, one that sees it as “dirty, really demanding”, and an overall perception that “there’s cooler jobs to be had out there.”
What a striking comparison to a modular construction facility like the Fero International factory in Stoney Creek, Ontario. One senses an atmosphere that is organised, safe and clean.
“It’s the same work, whether you’re building off-site or on-site,” Jennifer Blake, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Fero, told The Daily Commercial News. “It’s a controlled environment. You’re building inside a manufacturing facility. There’s no weather, so there’s no snow and no ice. There’s no extreme heat.”
Fero International is a relatively new member of the fast-growing modular construction industry. Its 300,000 square-foot purpose-built, state-of-the-art factory designs and manufactures volumetric modular buildings for a diverse range of uses.
Fero has not had any difficult hiring the trade workers it needs since starting production in 2023.
One reason could be that the environment at Fero makes it extremely attractive to skilled workers versus that on a traditional worksite. Modular construction facilities like Fero are technically advanced and produce a consistently high-quality product. The high level of safety is reflected by Fero meeting ISO 45001 standards for occupational health and safety. For example, Blake said that working at heights is extremely limited at Fero. “We’re building roofs on the ground rather than having people go up and work up high.”
Another factor for Fero’s hiring success could be that modular manufacturing is more labour-efficient.
“We don’t need the same number of people that you might need if you were a company going out to work sites. We have all the trades here, but they can work on more than one project in a single day, for example.”
Factory settings like Fero can offer several benefits that every worker can appreciate. It’s a member of LIUNA. There are proper washroom facilities and a cafeteria. Shifts are on a regular schedule, so employees know when to arrive and when they can return home to their families. Some modular builders offer employees a variety of programmes, even retirement savings plans with matching employer contributions.
And from an employment equity standpoint, there is what Blake calls “a level playing field” for all. “We have workers of all genders, ages and physical strengths. It’s a little more of an inclusive environment that way.” Job security is good too, she said. “We’ve never had to lay anyone off.”
While the trade work in a modular factory setting looks familiar in many ways, the factory process puts emphasis on good interpersonal skills and offers upskilling possibilities such as basic engineering and digital technology understanding for those looking to advance.
Although basic introduction programmes might be contained within the curriculums of community college construction courses, specific training for modular construction at post-secondary school level is limited.
Algonquin College in Ottawa will offer a Modular and Off-Site Construction module this fall within its Construction Project Management course.
“This course explores modern construction methods that streamline production, eliminate waste, and enhance performance,” the Algonquin website outlines. “Students will explore the manufacturing processes essential to the construction industry and examine the differences between modular, off-site, and conventional construction approaches. The course also highlights innovative practices that reduce risks, improve resource utilization, and boost project outcomes.”
Similarly, Achēv, a private provider of employment, settlement and language services across five locations in Southern Ontario, offers a six-week comprehensive modular housing training program. Over three weeks of in-class training followed by three weeks of on-site hands-on experience, enrollees learn essential skills in modular housing construction, including electrical, plumbing, carpentry, insulation, welding, and HVAC.
Modular construction makes sense in so many ways. The labour efficiencies and cost savings are well documented. However, the serious skilled labour shortage across the traditional construction industry, combined with Canada’s increasingly restrictive immigration landscape, makes the hiring outlook very challenging. Competition between modular and traditional construction for the best of the newly trained skilled workers will likely increase also.
Canada already faces more than 97,000 vacancies in the skilled trades, with another 1.2 million expected to open between 2022 and 2031. As the Pembina Institute writes, the issue is compounded by “underinvestment in the very institutions best positioned to train the next generation — our colleges and universities.”
Manufacturers like Fero may undertake their own recruitment and training efforts to attract the skilled trade workers they need to grow in the future. However, expansion of educational programmes to increase the amount and depth of modular-specific instruction, blended with apprenticeship opportunities across the country, makes sense as more modular factories open in Canada.
This would be welcomed by Fero and perhaps others.
“I want there to be greater awareness of modular construction as a potential career path,” Blake said. “That would be something key to look forward to in the future.”
2025-09-04 22:36:00