Industries with the Highest Labor Costs in Canada in 2021

1. Electric Power Transmission in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $7.3B

The Electric Power Transmission industry in Canada is responsible for storing and distributing electricity from Canada's upstream generation facilities. Industry operators manage transmission and distribution networks that total over 160,000.0 kilometres to serve residential, industrial and commercial customers. Industry performance is dependent on electricity prices within provinces, although the inelasticity of energy demand and the high degree of regulation insulates operators from any significant revenue declines. Industry performance is also closely tied to demand from major industrial, residential and commercial markets. While residential market demand is somewhat inelastic, industrial and commercial output and demand are much more variable, so performance... Learn More

2. Oil & Gas Field Services in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $6.9B

Operators in the Oil and Gas Field Services industry in Canada have experienced volatile market conditions over the five years to 2021. World commodity prices performed well over the years leading up to the reporting period. However, a fall in natural gas and crude oil prices adversely affected revenue in 2015, 2016 and 2020. While conditions began to improve in 2017 as prices returned to growth, they remain low relative to the peaks reached prior to the reporting period. Over the five years to 2021, IBISWorld forecasts revenue will rise an annualized 0.3% to $25.0 billion. Industry revenue is expected... Learn More

3. Plumbing in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $4.8B

The Plumbing industry in Canada includes contractors installing and maintaining plumbing fixtures, fittings and equipment. Contractors in the industry hold specific licences to install, service and repair all types of pipes and drainage systems, such as faucets, ovens and toilets, for the catchment and distribution of water, liquids, gases and waste products. The industry is one of many subcontracting industries essential to the residential and nonresidential building markets, since plumbers are needed to both install systems for new construction and to repair and maintain the systems of existing structures. Residential renovation has been a major source of revenue for the... Learn More

4. Scientific Research & Development in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $4.5B

The Scientific Research and Development industry in Canada includes organizations conducting physical, engineering and life sciences research, but does not include private research and development (R&D) conducted in-house at corporations. Private enterprises represent most industry clients and funding. However, due to the low corporate profit margin over most of the five years to 2021, enterprise investment remained low during most of the period.

Government funding for R&D has grown as the current administration has made investment in Canadian research a priority. New enterprises have entered the market, encouraged by targeted funding toward technological and innovative research areas. This has led to... Learn More

5. Printing in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $2.5B

The Printing industry in Canada has encountered several challenges over the past decade that have complicated its performance over the five years to 2021, the most significant of which has been rising competition from digital media. As media consumption and ad dollars have moved online, publishers and advertisers, two of the largest industry markets, have reduced their investments in traditional print products. Meanwhile, advances in workflow software and online communication have facilitated easier offshoring of work. As a result, printers in China, whose access to lower-cost labour permits them to undercut domestic companies on price, have gained market share. There... Learn More

6. Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $2.3B

The Wireless Telecommunications Carriers industry in Canada has performed well over the five years to 2021 as wireless coverage expanded and a greater number of Canadians adopted smartphones and tablets, thus boosting demand for high-margin mobile broadband services. The number of mobile telephone subscriptions is expected to rise an annualized 3.2% over the five years to 2021, and the number of fixed broadband connections is expected to rise an annualized 3.3% during the same period. Consequently, industry revenue is expected to increase an annualized 3.0% to $31.0 billion over the five years to 2021. Revenue is expected to grow 3.6%... Learn More

7. Municipal Building Construction in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $2.0B

The Municipal Building Construction industry in Canada includes a wide range of noncommercial markets, including healthcare, education, religious buildings and government offices. Direct government funding accounts for almost all education and public building construction, while the private sector funds most healthcare construction. While the industry performed poorly in the years leading up to the reporting period as the government sought to cut back government spending, it experienced steady growth during the first half of the reporting period in response to rising expenditure in particular on educational and healthcare facilities. This was short-lived, as the industry, as a result of rising... Learn More

8. Computer & Packaged Software Wholesaling in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $2.0B

The Computer and Packaged Software Wholesaling industry in Canada primarily sells computers, servers, packaged software and peripherals to businesses or resellers, which supply establishments with information technology (IT) equipment. Over the five years to 2021, increased consumer spending in Canada has helped foster new business formation and investment in computers and software, which has helped companies maintain a high level of IT and industry-related expenses. As downstream demand improved, industry revenue has increased, rising an annualized 1.6% to $37.9 billion over the five years to 2021. Moreover, the industry has benefited from a shift in consumer preference toward mobile products,... Learn More

9. Payroll & Bookkeeping Services in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $1.8B

The Payroll and Bookkeeping Services industry in Canada is expected to experience slight expansion over the five years to 2021. This industry includes companies that focus on the provision of payroll processing and bookkeeping transactions for other businesses. This enables time-scarce managers and businesses to focus on their core functions rather than minor administrative tasks such as payroll processing. The act of outsourcing business functions has become increasingly common over the past five years, which has increased demand for the industry's services. Additionally, favourable macroeconomic trends through much of the period have spurred demand and supported revenue growth. As a... Learn More

10. Machine Shop Services in Canada

Labor Costs for 2021: $1.8B

The Machine Shop Services industry in Canada creates finely tuned parts and components used in the manufacturing of high-performance durable goods, such as cars, aircraft, agricultural, oil field and medical equipment. Industry operators also provide custom milling, turning and boring services for conventional metal goods and stamped metals. Consequently, industry revenue is highly susceptible to changes in Canadian industrial production. As demand from vital downstream automotive, aviation and heavy machinery manufacturing markets improved during much of the period, revenue for the domestic industry expanded over the five years to 2021. However, the industry has also experienced economic headwinds over the... Learn More