According to the latest economic update by the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS), construction unemployment rate remains steady with both employment and labour force in the Ontario construction sector having increased year-over-year by about 2 per cent.
Month-over-month changes were smaller, leaving the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.5 per cent. The construction industry continued to show more resilience than the overall economy, as Ontario’s unemployment rate increased from 8.4 per cent to 8.9 per cent.
Ontario’s construction employment increased from 603.5K in July to 605.4K, while the labour force increased from 631.6K to 633.7K. Year-over-year trends were also sturdy, with a 1.9 per cent year-over-year increase in employment and a 1.8 per cent year-over-year increase in the labour force.
The unemployment rate was steady, increasing from 4.4 per cent in July to 4.5 per cent in August. The Ontario overall unemployment rate, however, continued to rise from 8.4 per cent to 8.9 per cent.
In terms of men’s employment, the report noted it was slightly down and labour force was unchanged. The 25 to 54 age group had a 1.7 per cent year-over-year increase in employment and 1.3 per cent in the labour force. Employment and labour force for men over the age of 55 was up month-to-month but down year-over-year.
Women’s employment and labour force numbers were slightly down from July but increased by 17.4 per cent year-over-year and 14.9 per cent year-over-year, respectively. According to the report, this increase was concentrated in the 25 to 54 age group, where women saw a 12.9 per cent year-over-year increase in employment, and 12.6 per cent year-over-year in the labour force. Employment for women aged 15 to 24 was steady in comparison to July and still up significantly in year-over-year terms.
Such monthly and yearly trends were also present in the youth labour force as well, up from 7K in August 2024 to 13K in August 2025. Similar to the trend for men over the age of 55, employment and labour force for women aged 55 and over were higher month-over-month, but down year-over-year.