Perspectives, which presents the construction industry’s economic activity forecasts for the coming year, is now available online here.

Growth in the construction industry hit a roadblock in 2020. After a record year in 2019, construction sites closed for thirty days in the spring, which kept activity from reaching the same levels in 2020. 

Nevertheless, the tempo gradually picked up. This year, 161 million hours worked are expected, a drop of 9% compared to 2019.

Obviously, all sectors suffered losses, but the residential sector still stood out with impressive levels given the circumstances.

Activity will gradually rise again next year, reaching 167.0 million hours worked, an increase of 4%. 

Although uncertainty will continue in 2021, the institutional and commercial sector will return to growth; although the private sector will start up fewer new projects, public sector projects will gradually take up the slack. 

Work in the civil engineering and roadwork sector will be maintained, with gains in some subsectors making up for losses in others. 

The strength in the residential sector will continue for a good part of the coming year, despite an anticipated slight slowdown. 

Finally, the industrial sector will remain quite weak, given the lack of major projects on the drawing board.

In this context, there will nevertheless be almost 170,000 workers active on construction sites in 2021, and 13,000 new workers should join the construction industry.