As the COVID-19 health crisis continues to transform life across Canada, the construction sector across the country is feeling the impact of a global recession continued with public mandates for social distancing. The Outpost community has been reaching out to ask how COVID-19 is impacting recruitment in the Canadian construction and engineering industries. These are our answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Jump to:

• Are employers in the engineering and construction sectors hiring right now?
• How long will it be before employers start hiring as usual again?
• I’m an unemployed jobseeker here in Canada right now, what advice can you offer?
• My employment is uncertain / has been terminated. What action can I take?
• I’m due to fly to Canada soon (August – October 2020) to activate my status in Canada. What should I do?
• My immigration or work permit application is in progress, how long will it take to receive final approval?
• I was meant to start a new job in the coming weeks, will I still be able to start as planned?
• I recently moved to Canada, should I consider returning home until things can return to normal?
• How will I know when Outpost Recruitment has new employment opportunities again?
• Where can I find more information about how COVID-19 may affect my move to Canada?

Are employers in the engineering and construction sectors hiring right now?

Hiring has resumed but many clients are taking a cautious approach due a prevailing sense of uncertainty. With a high number of firms laying off workers across industrial (Oil & Gas), there are quite a few free agents in the market. Most of our clients are preoccupied with procedures to bring their workers back into the office while  adapting to the new normal of stringent health and safety measures, including social distancing.

Given different provinces and specific projects have different restrictions in place, it’s ideal to research the relevant province and project.

We’re always keen to hear from motivated job seekers so feel free to create a profile and we can arrange a chat around your employment preferences. Our consultative approach is focused on working with strong motivated candidates and working towards finding them the right opportunity in the market. We have strong client relationships which allow us open channels of communication. Timing is everything in recruitment and we can monitor the market on your behalf.

How long will it be before employers start hiring as usual again?

Hard to say. There will always be exceptions with critical roles in the coming months but we’re certainly looking at a tighter employment market across all parts of Canada. It’s likely we will observe extremely competitive employment markets for the next year or so as the economy contracts. Prior to Covid, the construction market was facing a huge shortage of workers so there has been a dramatic swing bringing us to an employer’s market once again.

As we adapt to a calming of the health crisis, we wait to see further signs of strain in financial markets. The economic shock will impact all sectors of construction, but we expect commercial, industrial, and residential to be hardest hit. Public projects across institutional buildings and infrastructure will also be impacted, but investment in Canada’s infrastructure sector is long overdue and there is hope that Canada will maintain commitments to public infrastructure. We expect some major infrastructure projects to be postponed or cancelled as the Canadian government will likely try to balance their books after lots of welfare spending to counter higher unemployment levels.

While there will be exceptions, we expect all construction companies to start hiring again in coming months as they find their feet in the new normal.

I’m an unemployed jobseeker here in Canada right now, what advice can you offer?

As Canada adapts to a huge economic shock, finding employment will become difficult relative to the pre-Covid era. In construction, most clients are comfortable with their current pipeline but there is uncertainty as they look towards the future. Reduced budgets and falling construction costs may lead to clients delaying final decisions. Most companies will resist the temptation to hire in times of prolonged uncertainty. 

If you are a newcomer to Canada, we urge you to ensure that you have adequate emergency medical insurance (via public health plan or private means) to cover Covid-19-related risks.

If you are eligible for Employment Insurance in Canada, we urge you to register.

In terms of being proactive, we urge you to use our free resume templates and comprehensive Outpost blogs to help you return to the employment market as soon as possible. With high levels of unemployment expected in the post Covid-19 era, it’s critical that every candidate can up their game and present their work experience in the best possible manner. Investing time in your CV/resume will be the best time investment you can make as

My employment is uncertain / has been terminated. What action can I take?

We recommend you contact Service Canada and follow the relevant provincial guidelines to understand your employment rights. We highly recommend you research and prepare to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) if or when you receive negative news.

We highly recommend you research and prepare to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) so you can have your next steps planned if you do receive negative news.

I’m due to fly to Canada soon (September – November 2020) to activate my status in Canada. What should I do?

If you decide it is necessary to travel to Canada, your ability to enter the country depends on your immigration status. Canada has closed all international borders, including the Canada-U.S. border, to all foreign nationals unless you meet one of a handful of exceptions. For foreign workers, the most common exceptions are as follows: 

Work permit holders: Canada is allowing temporary workers who have already been issued a work permit or approved for a work permit to enter the country. The exception to this rule is IEC participants, who are only able to enter if they have already activated their work permit and had left Canada temporarily, or have already been approved for a work permit and have an offer of employment from a Canadian employer.

Canadian permanent residents: Canadian permanent residents are eligible to enter the country at this time. 

Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR-holders): If you were approved for Canadian permanent resident status prior to March 18, 2020, you are able to travel to Canada to activate your status. If you were approved after this date, you will have to wait for restrictions to be lifted.

Please refer to this page for a list of other exemptions to travel restrictions.

Regardless of your status in Canada, if you travel to the country from any foreign country you will be subject to additional screening measures at the Port of Entry and you will be mandated to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. If you do not have a plan for your 14 day self-isolation, you may be denied entry.

With a health crisis and financial crisis it’s critical that you have the means to support yourself financially if finding employment in Canada is expected to be a challenge. If you have employment arranged, we urge you not to make any further plans until the health crisis settles down. Circumstances are changing regularly, so please be patient.

Please note that immigration regulations are changing rapidly during the coronavirus outbreak in Canada. For up-to-date travel advice and information on how it may be possible to extend the validity period of your travel documents, please visit the COVID-19 and travel to Canada page on our sister website, Moving2Canada.com, and read the relevant instructions for the program you have been approved under. 

My immigration or work permit application is in progress, how long will it take to receive final approval? 

Canada’s immigration authorities have told applicants to expect delays in processing in the coming months. Applications are still being accepted and processed for most programs, but delays are likely. Please refer to this Government of Canada page for the latest information.

I was meant to start a new job in the coming weeks, will I still be able to start as planned?

You should contact your employer or recruiter directly if they haven’t already contacted you. It would be good to understand how the employer is handling the current circumstances and the likelihood that you will in fact start your new job. Most staff at the companies we work with are now working from home, therefore onboarding and training may be a challenge.

I recently moved to Canada, should I consider returning home until things can return to normal?

This is an important consideration. We would advise you to weigh up your options to make this decision. Being new in Canada, it is likely you moved across with a budget to keep you afloat for a certain amount of time, are trying to find somewhere permanent to live, trying to secure employment, and looking to meet friends and establish a support network. All of these will be challenging in the immediate future. You also likely won’t be entitled to publicly-funded Canadian healthcare (check out our guide on health insurance as a newcomer to Canada for details for your province), nor will you be eligible for Employment Insurance as you won’t have built up the necessary hours of work completed. In the event you were to become seriously ill you would have to pay out of pocket, a problem made worse if you don’t have access to EI benefits.

How will I know when Outpost Recruitment has new employment opportunities again?

We will be sure to send notifications such as newsletters with job opportunities, once available. Make sure you create a profile with us so we can keep you updated.  We are excited to hopefully bring you good news down the line.

Where can I find more information about how COVID-19 may affect my move to Canada?

Our sister website, Moving2Canada.com, has already helped thousands of people in Canada and around the world get to grips with this rapidly changing situation. Moving2Canada offers:

• A travel guide, updated regularly, with information on restrictions and more.
• For newcomers already in Canada, a guide on getting through COVID-19, with information on health, EI, and more.