Job prospects Building Carpenter in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "building carpenter" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Carpenters (NOC 72310) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

  • Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
  • A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

  • Most work in the construction industry, with a large number in residential building construction and as specialty trade contractors

 

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period, supporting work for carpenters
  • Steady demand for new housing to meet population growth
  • Residential and non-residential renovation projects
  • Large infrastructure investments in transit, health care, utilities and bridges

 

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • There is one voluntary skilled trade associated with this occupation in Ontario, named, General Carpenter
  • Completion of a working at heights and confined space awareness training program for some positions

 

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

  • There may be more work during the spring and summer months because of greater construction activity
  • Self-employment is common.

Here are some key facts about Carpenters in Ontario:

  • Approximately 36,250 people work in this occupation.
  • Carpenters mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Construction (NAICS 23): 85%
  • The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
    • Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupations
    • Part-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • 50% of carpenters work all year, while 50% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
  • 35% of carpenters are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: 17% compared to 9% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 33% compared to 25% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 26% compared to 8% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 24% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good
Location Job prospects
Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula Region Moderate
Kingston–Pembroke Region Good
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie Region Moderate
London Region Moderate
Muskoka–Kawarthas Region Moderate
Northeast Region Moderate
Northwest Region Moderate
Ottawa Region Good
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula Region Moderate
Toronto Region Good
Windsor-Sarnia Region Moderate

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "building carpenter" in Ontario or across Canada.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
Date modified: