The industry ended 2020 with an employment loss. For the entire year, construction employment is down 80,000 jobs, or 5.4 percent, and the threat of a partial industry closure in Ontario only leaves the industry in a more precarious position.

The associates hail from several disciplines and markets within the firm, making them well positioned to introduce diverse perspectives into the company’s senior leadership team.

Statistics Canada said Friday the economy lost 63,000 jobs while the unemployment rate edged up to 8.6 percent compared with 8.5 percent in November.

A report prepared by The Conference Board of Canada found that the industry is significantly lacking in skills such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence that are essential for closing communication gaps among workers from different generations and varying backgrounds.

A report by Statistics Canada looked at apprenticeship completion rates between 2008 and 2016. It found that those apprentices who trained in higher-paying trades and those training in fields relating to their trades were most likely to complete their programs.