Construction industry slowed due to site closures for health reasons In 2020, 162.1 million hours subject to Act R-20 were recorded in the construction industry. The shutdown of construction sites in the spring reduced the hours worked by -8.6% compared to 2019, i.e. a return to the level of activity of 2018. The closures hit differently depending on the sector: around twenty days for the sector residential, and about thirty for the non-residential. Construction sites were closed from March 25, to resume on April 20 in the residential sector and on May 11 for the non-residential sector.

Here is an overview of the hours worked by masons compared to other trades 2011 - 2020

JOB	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Bricklayer-mason	3891	3771	3952	4007	4359	4586	4238
Total CCQ trades (000) Variation	149,622	140,602	145,425	148,363	163,032	177,390	162,086

Percentage of hours worked masons compared to in total for all trades

2.60%

2.68%

2.71%

2.70%

2.67%

2.58%

2.61%

Number of hours worked by trade and occupation, 2011 – 2020

Source: CCQ, April 2021