Procore’s Canadian Construction Trends to Watch in 2023

Canadian Construction Trends

January 13, 2023

By Jas Saraw, VP, Canada, Procore

Looking at Canadian contruction trends in 2023, I expect a year of challenge and change as the Canadian construction industry grapples with ongoing problems such as the labour shortage while continuing to move toward integrated project delivery to achieve greater efficiency. At Procore, we are watching adoption of on-site technologies such as drones and augmented reality with interest, while we also expect further developments in project tools that improve the connection from the field to the back office, and offer predictive insights in order to further drive project efficiency.

Here are the construction trends we are tracking at Procore:

The Canadian labour shortage will continue challenging the industry. Not enough people are joining construction, which will mean a continued labour shortage in 2023. According to the Canadian Construction Association, 22 per cent of the Canadian construction workforce will be retiring by 2028. The loss of that experience and knowledge is a significant concern. 

* In addition to attracting more young people to the industry, technology will continue to help construction organizations do more with the workers they have. Streamlining processes with technology will reduce the time spent on non-productive tasks out in the field, and will enable employees to focus on more pressing work. I discussed this at Groundbreak:

* Labour technology is going to have a big impact in 2023; in particular, scheduling tools that help get the right people in the right place at the right time.

* Provinces and organizations will continue to highlight the industry to potential workers.  For example, Ontario has made an effort to introduce students to construction during elementary school. It also made it easier to transfer credentials for workers entering the province, and recently expanded its program allowing students to take apprenticeships while in high school.

AR and VR will demonstrate their potential. Virtual reality provides opportunities for training by simulating actions workers need to do. This could have implications for the labour shortage. Once in the field, the focus will be on augmented reality (in consideration of the danger of immersing yourself in a virtual world on a jobsite). AR can mitigate the financial risk of the design and concept stages, and its use could grow greatly in 2023.

Field processes will evolve with financials at the forefront. In construction, change happens in the field. But construction software can often only take the back-office into account. Financial tools will become more field-friendly in 2023, connecting the knowledge in the field to the office. For example, the field is first to know when a subcontractor encounters something that will delay the schedule or be a cost overrun. Financial tools that share information with stakeholders in real-time will gain ground.

Drone usage will rise. Canada leads other regions with use of drones, according to Dodge Construction Network’s report, 2022 Top Business Issues for Specialty Contractors Report. Thirty per cent of large or very large companies surveyed have already implemented site cameras, drones and onsite sensors, compared to U.S. companies with an average of 19 per cent. In 2023, drone usage will continue to grow to identify hazards and improve site safety.

There will be a shift to integrated project delivery. As labour, supply chain and financial constraints put pressure on the industry, there will be accelerated adoption of integrated project delivery to improve efficiency, streamline collaboration between stakeholders and minimize waste. Clean energy and sustainability will continue to be a focus. Sustainable construction projects are becoming more and more common in the news. While energy and climate issues are a priority globally and affect all industries, the Canadian construction sector in particular is very mindful of sustainability. We expect contractors and construction organizations will continue to work closely with government on these issues, as research and investments in these areas grow. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) will guide industry leaders in 2023, as they seek to create a bold new future for construction focused on reducing construction waste, mitigating rework, and enabling safer job sites with effective quality control.

Skillsets among workers will continue to diversify. As organizations are learning to do more with less, we’re seeing shifts in what used to be very distinguished roles. Owners have more in-house general contractors; general contractors are engaging in more self-perform work. In 2023, we expect to see this continue, with more organizations diversifying what they’re good at, in order to find efficiency, quality and productivity gains.

Predictive analytics will bring more insights. With more contractors moving project information from paper to the cloud, it will be increasingly possible to draw insights from historical data to inform decisions about budgets, scheduling and other aspects of construction. AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning), will take the complex data and voluminous data that is collected on jobsites and start to make sense of the data in order to drive predictive insights that will allow all project stakeholders to make more effective decisions earlier in the design and build process and ultimately shield themselves from downstream risk as the project schedule progresses.

You can follow my thinking on these and other matters in Canadian construction in my monthly newsletter, Breaking Ground. I welcome conversation and insights from the community.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Littelfuse: Solid-State Industrial Relays Quality Test Report

    Littelfuse: Solid-State Industrial Relays Quality Test Report

    April 21, 2025 Littelfuse Provides Insights Into Their Solid-State Industrial Relays Introduction Solid-State Relays (SSRs) are a critical component in modern electrical & electronic systems, providing reliable switching capabilities for various applications from industrial automation to consumer electronics. When it comes to choosing the right solid-state relay for your application, it’s important to know the… Read More…

  • PataBid vs. Accubid Classic: How Electrical Estimating Software is Evolving

    PataBid vs. Accubid Classic: How Electrical Estimating Software is Evolving

    April 21, 2025 By Melvin Newman, Patabid CEO The landscape of construction technology — especially in electrical estimating software—is evolving at a rapid pace. With the rise of cloud-based platforms, AI-driven automation, and advanced data integration, contractors now have more options than ever when choosing the right digital estimating tool.    With the rise of… Read More…

  • ESA has Identified Increasing Safety Concern Surrounding Meter Base Installations

    ESA has Identified Increasing Safety Concern Surrounding Meter Base Installations

    April 18, 2025 ESA and EFC are raising awareness on an increasing safety concern the ESA has identified surrounding meter base installations. ESA identified an increase of installed meter bases where the neutral block is isolated from the enclosure. According to OESC Rule 10-210 a bonding conductor must be installed between the meter base and… Read More…

  • Non-residential Construction Investment Continues to Reach Record Highs in January 2025

    Non-residential Construction Investment Continues to Reach Record Highs in January 2025

    April 18, 2025 Overall, investment in building construction rose 1.8% (+$393.7 million) to $22.1 billion in January. The residential sector increased 2.3% to $15.4 billion, while the non-residential sector was up 0.8% to $6.7 billion. Year over year, investment in building construction grew 5.7% in January. On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), investment in building construction increased 1.5% from the previous month to $13.2 billion… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • nVent Sustainability Report Highlights Progress and Focus on Electrification

    nVent Sustainability Report Highlights Progress and Focus on Electrification

    April 15, 2025 nVent Electric plc announced the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report. The new report highlights nVent’s achievements in each of its sustainability focus areas: People, Products, Planet and Governance. The report also highlights how nVent solutions support electrification, digitalization and sustainability efforts around the world. “nVent is becoming a more focused electrical… Read More…

  • Ontario Introduces Legistlation to Unlock Trade and Labour Mobility Within Canada

    Ontario Introduces Legistlation to Unlock Trade and Labour Mobility Within Canada

    April 18, 2025 As a next step in its plan to protect Ontario by unleashing the province’s economy, the Ontario government is introducing the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act to unlock free trade and labour mobility within Canada. This legislation will, if passed, create new opportunities for job creation and investment attraction, supporting economic… Read More…

  • Ontario, P.E.I. Join Nova Scotia With Legislation to Remove Internal Trade Barriers

    Ontario, P.E.I. Join Nova Scotia With Legislation to Remove Internal Trade Barriers

    April 18, 2025 Prince Edward Island and Ontario have joined the Nova Scotia by introducing reciprocal legislation that will help foster an environment of mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility between these provinces. “Leaders across the country are expressing interest in removing trade barriers, and I’m very pleased that P.E.I. and Ontario have… Read More…

  • New Brunswick Signs MOU with Ontario to Reduce Trade and Labour Mobility Barriers

    New Brunswick Signs MOU with Ontario to Reduce Trade and Labour Mobility Barriers

    April 18, 2025 The governments of New Brunswick and Ontario have signed a memorandum of understanding on free trade and labour mobility. “Ontario is New Brunswick’s second-biggest trading partner, and we are excited to be building on the positive momentum to reduce internal trade barriers across Canada,” said Premier Susan Holt. “Today’s signing of this… Read More…