Rick Omond’s construction company in New Brunswick has given three pay raises over the last year and a half as it tries to hold on to workers in the midst of a record labour shortage.
“Workers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers — they know how busy it is. And it’s a daily battle that they’re looking for more money,” said Omond, the vice-president of Newco Construction in Moncton.
Omond says he could hire six carpenters and labourers right now — if he could find them. And without a full team, he says, projects are taking longer to complete.
Like many construction companies in the province, Newco has
