A survey of 265 construction companies across Canada found that 78 per cent of firms are experiencing a skilled-labour shortage. While substantial, that’s down from 90 per cent in 2023, with 81 per cent of respondents reporting improved productivity and efficiency due to recent investments in technology. (The Logic)

Talking point: While the sector may be seeing some returns on those tech investments, much more is needed to meet intensifying demands on the sector, according to the survey by KPMG in collaboration with the Canadian Construction Association. Boosting productivity in construction could create outsized gains for the economy—the sector is one the country’s biggest drivers of GDP and also one of the least efficient. That contributes to stubbornly high housing costs across Canada, which—as Halifax’s housing boom shows—can be hard to bring down even as supply surges.