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Criminal records stunting progress of Canada’s construction industry
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By Carolyn Smith

With a substantial growth in residential building projects and an increase in government investment in the non-residential sector, the construction industry in Canada shows great progress and potential. According to the Construction Sector Council, rising incomes and lower interest rates have sustained a constant flow of projects since the recession and recovery in commodity prices have created several mining, pipeline and port expansions.

Construction pumps $130 billion into Canada’s economy, and all of these economic growth indicators signal that it’s an ideal time to seek a career in the industry. Job numbers are forecasted to increase steadily across Canada in years to come, but unfortunately, because of the rising demand for workers along with a large demographic of baby boomers retiring, the industry is expected to experience harsh labour shortages. On top of this, issues around criminal record checks are rising as a major barrier in the recruitment process when it comes to hiring skilled labourers.

 

 

 

 

After the market crashed in 2008, the financing of construction projects plummeted, resulting in mass layoffs and project delays. Many construction sites sat idle; and skilled labourers found themselves out of work. When hiring resumed, it was under new policy, and criminal record checks were the norm.

This left long-time employees previously qualified to work unable to obtain employment because of mistakes made in the past that now prohibited them from passing the screening process. As a result, perfectly qualified men and women are no longer able to support themselves, while demand for various types of construction and skilled trade workers  continues to increase, particularly for:

•    Boilermakers
•    Carpenters
•    Construction estimators
•    Construction millwrights
•    Drillers and blasters
•    Electricians
•    Plumbers
•    Sheet metal workers
•    Steamfitters and pipefitters

Over 4 million Canadians (10 per cent of the population) have a criminal record, and in an industry like construction, it’s often impossible for these individuals to land a job after employers have seen that they have a record.  Both candidates and businesses looking to hire suffer, as does the economy overall – jobs cannot be filled, projects completed and business cannot happen at the proper pace.
Ainsley Muller, an expert on criminal records and issues surrounding hiring within the construction industry from Express Pardons, says there is often a misconception when it comes to the kinds of people who have a criminal record.

“Whether it’s a neighbour, friend, or co-worker, many hard-working Canadians are unable to obtain employment because of mistakes made in their past. It’s important to recognize the barriers these people face – they’re left unable to get a job, earn a living, or support their families because of the record checks construction jobs put in place. Construction companies put applications in the “no” pile, without even knowing what the applicant’s record is for,” Muller said.

Dan Brown, an HR and employment specialist in construction at Summit Search Group BC, has also recognized the trend with criminal records in the construction industry. “A lot of candidates come to us who are unable to obtain employment because of their criminal records. With in-depth screening processes available, it’s almost impossible to get a job when you’re unable to pass a criminal background check.”

Luckily, companies like Express Pardons can help people who have minor criminal records apply for and obtain pardons, so they can re-integrate themselves within society and obtain employment or get an education.

To learn more about Express Pardons, visit www.expresspardons.com.

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