Canada’s non-residential construction sector rests on two complementary pillars: the construction of commercial buildings (offices, hotels, retail, warehouses) and heavy civil engineering projects (bridges, dams, rail lines, pipelines).Together, these segments generate over $107 billion in revenue in 2025 and employ more than 100,000 skilled workers.
The market is benefiting from a gradual recovery in new starts, supported by easing interest rates and rising demand for resilient public infrastructure.However, margins remain under pressure: surging material costs, shortages of specialized labor, and stricter environmental standards are pushing contractors to invest in modular methods, prefabrication, and BIM technologies to maintain competitiveness.
The three indicators below offer a snapshot of the sector’s strength and momentum: business volume, profitability, and workforce size.
Total value of contracts executed in commercial construction and heavy civil engineering, supported by the recovery of institutional investment.
Share of revenue converted into earnings before interest and taxes; ranges from 6.7% for commercial buildings to 13.4% for major engineering works.
Engineers, foremen, and skilled tradespeople working across more than 12,000 active construction sites nationwide.
Between 2025 and 2030, projected annual growth of 2% to 3% will be driven by the modernization of energy infrastructure, the green conversion of commercial buildings, and major public transit megaprojects.
Contractors that adopt 5D modeling, factory prefabrication, and low-carbon materials (recycled steel, low-clinker concrete, cross-laminated timber) will improve productivity and reduce exposure to input price volatility.
Additionally, federal programs such as the Net-Zero Building Accelerator Fund and the Investing in Canada Plan will continue to support demand, while reinforcing ESG criteria and emission disclosure requirements.
In this context, consolidation between engineering and construction firms is expected to continue, allowing them to pool R&D resources and secure skilled labor, paving the way for a more integrated and tech-driven market.
The three indicators below offer a snapshot of the sector’s strength and momentum: business volume, profitability, and workforce size.
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