Canada is building — housing, transit, hospitals, data centres and clean-energy infrastructure — and the workforce needed to build it is aging out faster than it is being replaced. Industry bodies have warned for years that tens of thousands of skilled trades workers will need to be recruited to meet demand and replace retirements this decade. That structural shortage, concentrated in carpentry, the electrical trades and the mechanical trades, is why Canada’s largest builders look abroad for qualified people.
This guide profiles 15 of the most established construction firms operating across Canada, the trades they hire, and the wages those trades typically command. It then explains how foreign-trained tradespeople get certified to work in Canada, the immigration pathways that turn a job offer into permanent status, and how Employer of Record and workforce solutions support international hiring.
The trades in demand
Canada classifies occupations with National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, and these codes determine which immigration programs a worker qualifies for. Two trades anchor this guide. Carpenters fall under NOC 72310, covering formwork, framing and finishing work across residential, commercial and civil projects. Electricians (except industrial and power system) fall under NOC 72200, with industrial electricians classified separately under NOC 72201. Both trades sit at TEER 2, the skill tier that Canada’s Federal Skilled Trades pathways are built around.
Closely related trades are in equally strong demand and follow the same immigration logic: welders (NOC 72106), plumbers (NOC 72300), steamfitters and pipefitters (NOC 72302), heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (NOC 72400). Wages for carpenters and electricians generally run from CAD $28 to $45 per hour for certified journeypersons, rising toward and beyond the top of that band in Alberta, British Columbia and the territories, and higher again for foremen and site supervisors. Apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyperson rate that increases with each level. Every legitimate offer must meet or exceed the prevailing wage published for the trade and region on Canada’s Job Bank.
The 15 construction firms
The firms below include the country’s largest general contractors, which employ carpenters and general trades directly, and leading electrical and mechanical contractors, which are the natural employers of electricians. Each runs projects nationwide or across a major region, sustaining steady demand for skilled trades. Wage ranges are typical market ranges by trade and vary by province, project and experience.
| # | Firm | Specialty | Trades commonly hired | Typical wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PCL Construction | General contractor | Carpenter, formwork carpenter, general trades | $30–$45 |
| 2 | EllisDon | General contractor | Carpenter, general trades, foreman | $30–$45 |
| 3 | Aecon Group | Infrastructure & civil | Carpenter, formwork carpenter, electrician | $30–$46 |
| 4 | Ledcor Group | GC & infrastructure | Carpenter, electrician, general trades | $32–$46 |
| 5 | Graham Group | General contractor | Carpenter, general trades, foreman | $31–$45 |
| 6 | Bird Construction | General contractor | Carpenter, general trades | $30–$44 |
| 7 | Pomerleau | GC (QC / national) | Carpenter, formwork carpenter | $29–$44 |
| 8 | Chandos Construction | General contractor | Carpenter, general trades | $30–$44 |
| 9 | Clark Builders | GC (West & North) | Carpenter, general trades, foreman | $31–$45 |
| 10 | Maple Reinders | GC (Ontario) | Carpenter, general trades | $29–$43 |
| 11 | Black & McDonald | Electrical & mechanical | Electrician, apprentice electrician | $32–$46 |
| 12 | Modern Niagara | Mechanical & electrical | Electrician, apprentice electrician | $32–$46 |
| 13 | Plan Group | Electrical & mechanical | Electrician, apprentice electrician | $32–$46 |
| 14 | Flynn Group of Companies | Building envelope & roofing | Carpenter, roofer, sheet metal worker | $29–$44 |
| 15 | Houle Electric | Electrical contractor (BC) | Electrician, apprentice electrician | $33–$47 |
The split is worth reading closely. General contractors and civil builders self-perform concrete, formwork and framing, which makes them the primary direct employers of carpenters, while dedicated electrical and mechanical contractors — the natural home for electricians — often hire in volume for large institutional and industrial projects. Matching your trade to the right type of firm, and favouring provinces and projects where demand is highest, sharpens your prospects considerably.
Getting your trade certified in Canada
This is the step foreign tradespeople most often overlook, and it matters more than the job search itself. Canada certifies trades at the provincial level, and the Red Seal Program then allows a certified worker to move between provinces. Crucially, some trades are compulsory — meaning you must hold a certificate of qualification or be a registered apprentice to work legally — while others are voluntary.
Electrician is a compulsory trade in most provinces, so a foreign electrician generally cannot simply start work on a site without provincial certification or apprentice registration. Carpenter, by contrast, is a voluntary trade in most provinces, which gives foreign carpenters more immediate flexibility, even though Red Seal certification still strengthens both pay and immigration prospects. In practice, a foreign-trained worker asks the provincial apprenticeship or trades authority to assess their credentials and experience, and may be required to complete supervised hours or pass the Red Seal examination to earn full journeyperson standing. Starting this assessment early — ideally before arrival — prevents costly delays.
How work authorization and sponsorship work
Foreign tradespeople reach these jobs through two broad pathways, and understanding the difference is essential.
The temporary work permit
Many trades workers begin on an employer-specific work permit. A Canadian employer offers the job, applies to the government for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) demonstrating the role could not be filled locally, and — once approved — the worker uses that decision to apply for a work permit tied to that employer. This is what most people mean by “visa sponsorship” in Canada: the process is employer-driven, and the employer pays the LMIA fee by law. Skilled trades, given the documented national shortage, are among the stronger cases for approval.
Permanent residence
Skilled trades enjoy dedicated permanent-residence routes. The Federal Skilled Trades Program, part of Express Entry, is designed specifically for tradespeople and typically requires qualifying work experience together with either a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory. Express Entry has also held category-based rounds that prioritise trades occupations. Provincial Nominee Programs run trades-focused streams in most provinces, the Atlantic Immigration Program offers an employer-driven route across the four Atlantic provinces, and rural and smaller-community pilots channel workers to regions building rapidly. Quebec operates its own selection system with separate rules and should be treated as a distinct pathway.
Landing a role
The strongest candidates begin credential recognition early, target a specific trade and region, and apply through official channels: each firm’s careers site, Canada’s Job Bank, and reputable trades job boards. A clear, one-to-two-page résumé that names the NOC code, lists certifications and tickets — such as working-at-heights, fall protection or first aid — and quantifies project experience reads well to Canadian hiring managers. Documents to prepare in advance include a passport, proof of trade qualifications and hours, reference letters that verify experience, and English or French language test results, which weigh heavily in permanent-residence scoring. A genuine offer always takes the form of a detailed written contract specifying wage, hours and location.
Employer of Record and international workforce support
Hiring across borders is administratively complex, and construction firms increasingly rely on specialist providers to manage it. Understanding this layer helps a foreign worker know exactly who their legal employer is and how they will be paid.
At the centre of this is the Employer of Record (EOR): a company that becomes the legal employer of a worker on a client firm’s behalf, taking responsibility for payroll, tax withholding, benefits and employment compliance while the worker performs their trade for the construction company on site. For international hiring, an EOR or global employment provider allows a builder to engage overseas talent compliantly without establishing its own payroll entity in every jurisdiction, and many such providers coordinate the immigration and work-permit process alongside employment — the practical substance of what job seekers call visa sponsorship.
Related services sit around the EOR model. Global payroll platforms consolidate wages, deductions and remittances across regions into a single compliant system, so a worker is paid accurately and on time. A professional employer organization (PEO) offers a similar co-employment model within a single country, sharing HR, benefits and compliance responsibilities with the employer. And contractor management and broader workforce management software give firms visibility over who is working where, under what status, and with which certifications current — essential on large sites where compliance is audited. For a tradesperson relocating to Canada, the takeaway is straightforward: confirm in writing who your legal employer is, how global payroll will reach you, and who is handling your work permit, so there are no surprises after you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Do these construction firms sponsor visas directly?
Firms hire and, where the role qualifies under current rules, apply for an LMIA that supports a work permit — the Canadian equivalent of sponsorship. Some also engage an Employer of Record or global employment provider to act as the legal employer and coordinate immigration.
How much do foreign carpenters and electricians earn in Canada?
Certified journeypersons typically earn CAD $28 to $45 per hour depending on trade, province and project, with Alberta, British Columbia and the territories at the higher end and foremen above it. Apprentices earn a rising percentage of the journeyperson rate. Every offer must meet the local prevailing wage.
Do I need to be certified before I can work?
Electrician is a compulsory trade in most provinces, so you generally need provincial certification or apprentice registration to work legally. Carpenter is usually a voluntary trade, offering more immediate flexibility, though Red Seal certification improves both pay and immigration prospects. Begin your credential assessment with the provincial trades authority as early as possible.
Is a work permit the same as permanent residence?
No. A work permit is temporary and usually tied to a single employer, while permanent residence lets you live and work anywhere in Canada. For trades, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and provincial nominee programs are often the strongest routes to permanent residence.
Official resources
Confirm current rules, wages, certification and employer eligibility through official sources: Canada’s Job Bank for postings and prevailing wages; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for work permits and permanent-residence programs; Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and LMIA rules; the Red Seal Program and your provincial apprenticeship authority for trade certification; and each firm’s official careers page to apply directly.