Upcut: Bridging Canada’s Construction Labour Gaps with Video-First Hiring

Canada’s construction sector is booming—yet ironically, it’s also strained by a pronounced shortage of skilled workers. Despite a 3.6% year-over-year jump in construction employment (roughly 58,000 jobs added as of January 2025), many major projects are still being delayed due to a lack of hands on deck.

The Challenge: A Perfect Storm of Labour Gaps

Several converging factors are putting pressure on the sector:

Elevated job vacancies: In early 2024, the construction sector's job vacancy rate stood at 4.2%—well above the national average.

Wave of retirements: Aging workers are exiting in droves. Ontario alone anticipates over 80,000 retirements by 2031.

Mismatch between roles and applicants: Statistics Canada data shows the ratio of new hires to vacancies in construction has plunged—from 119.9% in 2016 to just 32.3% in 2022—highlighting that even when vacancies exist, they’re not being filled.

Hiring friction and retention woes: Almost half (49.5%) of construction businesses report recruiting skilled labor as a major upcoming obstacle, and retention remains a key challenge.

Enter Upcut: A Smarter, Speedier Hiring System

Upcut isn’t just another job portal—it’s a video-first, proof-of-work platform that matches construction employers with local, motivated talent in a way that’s fast, authentic, and retention-focused.

Here’s how Upcut makes a difference:

Show, don’t just tell

Workers can film short videos showcasing their craftsmanship—whether it's framing, wiring, or operating equipment—offering employers instant insight into their capability and fit.

Local talent, fast onboarding

Upcut helps match employers with nearby jobseekers eager to prove themselves. This cuts down long onboarding timelines and fills empty roles more quickly.

Retention through embedded training

Use Upcut to deliver quick video-based onboarding or safety tutorials—ideal for bridging the skills gap and keeping workers educated, safe, and engaged.

Solutions-focused, not temporary

While traditional responses may rely heavily on temporary foreign workers or apprenticeships, Upcut builds local pipelines with intent—helping communities upskill and commit long-term.

Why Now?

With many skilled tradespeople exiting the workforce and job vacancies soaring, Upcut provides a timely mechanism for construction employers:

Accelerating hires: Reduce time-to-hire with on-demand proof-of-skill videos.

Improving retention: Built-in micro-training helps keep workers engaged and competent.

Bolstering local economy: By spotlighting local youth and workers, Upcut supports sustainable hiring ecosystems, even amid broader labour shortages.

In Summary

Canada’s construction industry is at a pivotal moment—surging in demand yet beset by workforce shocks. Upcut offers a compelling, modern solution that’s tailored to construction’s unique dynamics—and can help reduce project delays, staffing pressure, and the effects of the looming "silver tsunami" of retirements.

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Resources:

• primusworkforce.com

• Canadian Science Publishing

• Certn

• Statistics Canada