Case study
Construction Sector Productivity and the Impact of Increased Job Versatility
The mandate
Client need
The Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ) aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the productivity dynamics within Quebec’s construction sector. Their goal was to uncover effective methods for measuring productivity trends and to estimate the potential gains from increasing job versatility across the industry.
Our work
Our strategic approach
We supported the project across 4 key phases
Laying the Groundwork
We began with a thorough review of the literature, focusing on the most relevant productivity concepts and metrics in the construction sector.
Hearing from the Front Lines
We surveyed 308 construction contractors—112 of whom responded—to gather first-hand insights and estimate potential time savings that could result from greater job versatility on worksites.
Measuring the Economic Ripple Effect
We assessed the economic impact of enhanced job flexibility across key segments of the industry: residential, commercial/institutional, and civil engineering, highlighting where the biggest gains could be achieved. Results are broken down for the construction, residential, commercial/institutional and civil engineering sectors.
Putting the Findings to the Test
To ensure robust results, we conducted three sensitivity analyses: adjusting for company size, weighting for general contractors, and scaling the impact to the entire construction sector to explore broader implications.
Results
The results
Recommendations and Impact
The Quebec government has modernized the construction industry with Bill 51, which improves worksite productivity and increases the versatility of trades, as highlighted in the conclusions of the AppEco report.
Tracking Productivity
The study identified four key metrics to effectively monitor and analyse productivity trends in Quebec’s construction sector:
1. Labor productivity
2. Unit costs
3. Number of accidents per GDP dollar
4. Capital stock per GDP dollarThe Role of Intangibles
These metrics revealed a concerning trend: Quebec’s construction industry ranks among the least productive in Canada. A major contributing factor? Intangible and organizational issues that undermine labour efficiency.
Unlocking Gains Through Versatility
By increasing job versatility, the sector could recover nearly 10% of total working hours—enough to close up to one-third of the productivity gap between Quebec and Ontario. This represents a powerful opportunity to transform the industry’s performance and competitiveness.
