Trades NL says a strategy must be developed to address the demands on the construction industry, especially in light of a forecast increase in industrial growth and housing development.
Trades NL executive director Darin King says he was pleased to see funding in the federal budget to promote trades and encourage small and medium-sized businesses to take on more apprentices.
But he says a comprehensive strategy is needed.
“Regrettably, promoting the trades and what goes with that should have happened a couple of years ago,” says King.
“Having said that, I really think we have to put a lot of emphasis into a strategy that pulls all the stakeholders together in the province to figure out where we’re heading, because we’re staring down the barrel of a lot of work coming at us.”