Today, the CCQ is unveiling the economic forecast for the construction industry for 2026. The report, Perspectives 2026,  confirms an encouraging portrait of employment and activity in the industry for the year to come, despite the uncertain global context. 

To read the press release, click on this link.

Here are the report highlights:

• The expected record level for 2025 was achieved:  a total of 215 million hours worked in the construction industry was compiled for the year (+2%), despite the great uncertainty that prevailed in the economy in general. 
• In 2026, the construction industry is preparing for another very busy year, with a projection of 213.2 million hours worked.
  • The coming year looks positive for the civil engineering and roads sector, with a level of activity that could surpass 40 million hours, and the coming years may be strong as well, notably due to Hydro-Québec’s Action Plan 2035.
  • After an enviable level of activity in 2025, a slowdown is expected in the industrial sector, as a number of companies were forced to delay or cancel large-scale projects due to the persistent economic uncertainty related to the trade war.
  • A slowdown is also likely in the institutional and commercial sector due, among other things, to the projected drop in public investments in construction of institutional and governmental buildings.
  • The number of residential housing starts will continue to rise next year due to successive interest-rate drops; although temporary immigration is dropping, activity will remain strong due to the constantly high demand for housing, positioning this sector in a favourable context for 2026.

“The results given in the Perspectives 2026 report show that construction is, more than ever, a pillar of Québec’s economy, despite an uncertain global context,” noted Audrey Murray, CEO of the CCQ. “To build the Québec of the future, we will need more workers, more collaboration among the industry’s partners, and the same perseverance that defines the thousands of players in the Québec construction sector. Given the major construction sites before us, forecasting is essential to solid planning.”

An event to mark the publishing of the report!

Today, the CCQ organized its very first event to mark the publication of the report Perspectives 2026, attended by major leaders in the Québec construction industry and different partners.

The event, Construire demain: s’unir pour façonner l’avenir du Québec, brought together almost 150 participants and offered enriching conversations on innovation, productivity, labour, and our industry’s role in the Québec of tomorrow.

The CCQ would like to thank Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for the Mauricie Region,  , and the members of the panel for their attendance and for their dedication to their respective organizations. With this spirit of collaboration, Québec can build more and better.

Photo credit : Geneviève Beaupré