New service in Quebec for laid-off workers hopes to entice them to construction industry

A residential construction site in Pointe-Claire, Que., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Workers facing mass layoffs may soon receive a visit from the Quebec Construction Commission (CCQ), in the hopes of redirecting them to its industry.

The commission, supported by Quebec’s Ministry of Employment, is launching a new service called Guichet orientation construction, targeting workers affected by collective redundancies of at least 50 people, particularly because of customs duties.

When a collective redundancy is announced, the ministry is automatically notified, explains Employment Minister Pascale Déry.

“Our agents at Emploi Québec are used to sending redeployment assistance committees,” she said. “They have the expertise to support all redundant workers. If we can have better networking and a coordinated strategy to facilitate the transfer of personnel from the affected sectors to opportunities in the construction sector, I think that’s a good thing.”

A CCQ team could visit companies that announce large-scale layoffs and employ workers with manual skills or relevant training.

“I am putting together a multidisciplinary team that is capable of informing, studying, guiding and even, onsite, giving a good idea of the conditions for success in obtaining a certificate of competence,” in construction, explained CCQ President and CEO Audrey Murray.

“There will be face-to-face or virtual meetings with the affected employees,” adds Labour Minister Jean Boulet. “We will gather information to identify training needs, skills enhancement and other relevant information. We will analyze this information with a multidisciplinary team at the CCQ and send personalized communications to identify possible pathways and prerequisites. We will follow up. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that these individuals obtain an apprentice certificate of competency and can join our industry.”

Murray indicates that the Construction Commission estimates the industry’s needs across Quebec at 16,000 workers per year from 2025 to 2029 to fill gaps left by departures, retirements and any necessary additions for yet-to-be-announced construction projects.

He notes that some trades are in particularly high demand, such as carpenters and electricians.

Although the new service is intended for workers laid off as part of mass redundancies, Boulet assured that other employees will not be left behind.

“Our construction career counselling service is primarily aimed at people affected by collective redundancies resulting from tariffs, but that doesn’t mean that we’re leaving others behind. All other programs remain in place as well,” he insisted.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 6, 2025.