New Brunswick is facing a huge shortage of skilled trades and general labourers over the coming years.

It is something the Construction Association of New Brunswick hopes to tackle through a new committee.

Executive Director John-Ryan Morrison said they will look at challenges and opportunities, with a specific focus on filling job vacancies by better leveraging immigration.

“There’s a huge shortage in skilled trades and general labourers right now and it’s anticipated to be over 10,000 in the next few years,” Morrison said in an interview on Monday.

According to labour force data provided by the province, around 4.2 per cent of construction jobs are currently unfilled in New Brunswick.

Labour force projections estimate there will be 8,400 retirements and thousands of new jobs created due to increased demand in the construction workforce between now and 2032.

The committee is a partnership between the provincial government, the federal government, and various industry partners.

Morrison said they will begin their efforts with a 100-day challenge to develop short-term and long-term solutions to the labour shortages.

“We’ll focus on three main areas where there are obstacles right now. One is in recruitment, one is in workplace readiness, and one is in credential recognition,” he said.

New Brunswick will need to be innovative, according to Morrison, as they are competing against other provinces in trying to attract talent.

Labour Minister Arlene Dunn said as the province experiences unprecedented growth, there is a need to accelerate building everything from schools to homes to commercial spaces.

“The construction workforce is at the centre of this, and this committee will be key to helping us find ways to meet the growing demand for skilled tradespeople, particularly in relation to residential construction,” said Dunn.

The province is contributing $250,000 toward the project while the federal government is investing just over $190,000.