Navigating The Infrastructure Job Market In Canada

Tips And Insights

If you are considering exploring job opportunities in Canada’s infrastructure sector, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Canada is the world’s second-largest country, at 9,093,510 KM2, or over 6% of the World’s landmass[1]! Within that, there are over one million kilometers of public road assets[2] and 40,000 kilometers of rail trackage[3]; both literally and figuratively, this can be tricky to navigate.

Here is some information that might help.

The Canada Infrastructure Sector

• Canada's Infrastructure Sector mainly segments electricity, roads, water systems, public utilities, airports, railways, and telecommunications.
• The sector's size is around $179 billion CAD, and its Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is forecasted to be more than 4% through 2029.
• As part of its ‘Invest in Canada’ plan, the Canadian government pledged to spend $33 billion between 2018 and 2030 to support projects in public transit, green infrastructure, community culture and recreation infrastructure, and rural and northern communities infrastructure.
• In 2021, the Government launched a CAD 10.5 billion "Growth Plan" for the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to create 60,000 jobs by investing in major infrastructure projects through 2025.[4]

How can you navigate the Infrastructure Sector, identify job opportunities, and position yourself as a successful candidate?

Here are five tips and tricks that will help.

1. Understand Market Trends: Knowledge is power – do you know the ten largest infrastructure projects in Canada, where they are located, and which companies are involved in their development? Can you explain the difference between progressive design-build and integrated project delivery? Are you up to speed on the Energy Transition? If your answer is no to any of these questions, it might be helpful to research market trends and consider how to apply this knowledge to your job search to gain a competitive advantage.
2. Leveraging Your Network: Jeff Kavanaugh’s quote, “Help others, be of service, live each day fully, and remember,?Your Network is Your Net Worth,” holds true to this day. Who do you know working in infrastructure-related roles in Canada, and could they act as a referral or assist you in navigating the job market? Are you a member of a professional society? Have you considered attending industry-specific functions or events, signing up for industry newsletters, and joining LinkedIn groups? If you are unsure where to start, here is a great article in our Newsletter series that can help.
3. Finding Job Opportunities: While Job Vacancies and Job Vacancy Rates have decreased for the past two years in Canada, [5]there are still significant opportunities for those looking to either change roles or join the sector. For context, there are over 330,000 jobs in the infrastructure sector in Canada[6]. At Parsons, we are recruiting for 94 positions across Canada; some of our most pressing requirements can be found at Hot Jobs. There are numerous job boards and job sites (our favorite, naturally, is the Parsons Career Page) where you can search for and apply for Infrastructure Jobs in Canada. Here is another helpful article from our newsletter series for tips and tricks on being more efficient in your job search. Additionally, consider signing up for alerts from your favorite job boards and job sites to drive efficiency in your job search.
4. Be Intentional And Specific: You can maximize your opportunity for success by searching for and applying to jobs directly applicable to your experience and skills. Here at Parsons, our Canada team consists of engineers, project controllers, architects, technical staff, and project management professionals working across nine provinces and domains such as Design Build and Alternative Methods, Project Delivery, Program, Project and Construction Management, Consulting and Planning, Environmental Planning, Diligence, and Renewal and Operations and Maintenance. It is important for you to identify which domain and geography is the best fit for you and in which you believe you can add the most value, and then focus your job search efforts accordingly.
5. Tailored Approach: The Canadian Infrastructure sector is increasingly competitive; newly licensed Engineers increased by 33% from 2021 to 2022 [7]across Canada. Consequently, maximizing your opportunities for success is important when applying for jobs. An effective way to do this is to carefully review the requirements of the position outlined in the job advertisement or posting and tailor your CV accordingly in order to highlight corresponding duties, knowledge, and achievements in your career – don’t be afraid to briefly list key projects and skills that you feel are applicable to highlight them and include a cover letter if you feel it is appropriate.

Parsons In Canada

Our team has contributed to major infrastructure projects across Canada for over eighty years.?Across the country, our teams are on the cutting edge of infrastructure engineering and have helped design and build many of the country's well-known landscapes, including the Regina Bypass, Turcot Exchange, Kicking Horse Canyon, Olivier-Charbonneau Bridge, Gordie Howe International Bridge, Highway 401, Gardiner Expressway Rehabilitation Project, Highway 400 & Major Mackenzie Drive, and La Fontaine Tunnel. Our experts have also worked with transit agencies nationwide, helping the Toronto Subway, GO Transit network, Vancouver SkyTrain, and the Edmonton Light Rail Transit improve mobility in their communities.

We bring innovative solutions to life across the country, helping local, regional, and provincial governments enhance mobility, connect communities, restore the environment, and develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

Learn more about Parsons in Canada here.

Join Us!

We continuously seek talented individuals to join us in building the future of Canadian Infrastructure. If you are interested in learning more about what working for Parsons is like, visit Life At Parsons and check out our Careers Page for specific opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you! #ParsonsCareers

[1] https://www.worldometers.info/geography/largest-countries-in-the-world/

[2] https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/1941-merge-these-data-numbers-canadas-roads-and-road-trips

[3] https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/transportation-canada-annual-reports/canada-s-rail-network

[4] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/infrastructure-sector-in-canada/market-size

[5] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240725/dq240725a-eng.htm

[6] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018013/econo-eng.htm

[7] https://engineerscanada.ca/reports/national-membership-report/2023-national-membership-information#-newly-licensed-engineers