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Recruiting Plumbers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland
Demand for Plumbers in Calgary
Plumbers have been identified as a high-demand occupation in Calgary, based on the Calgary Labour Demand Forecast 2012.1 In 2010, there were approximately 2,900 plumbers in the Calgary labour force. Between 2010 and 2020, it is anticipated labour demand for plumbers will increase by 700 additional workers. Employers will likely face difficulties recruiting qualified workers for both newly-created jobs and existing positions that become vacant. During the global economic slowdown of 2007-2009, 75 per cent of plumbing employers in Calgary recruited plumbers for vacant positions and 86 per cent of recruiting employers reported experiencing hiring difficulties. In addition, 43 per cent of vacant positions remained vacant for over four months,2 making it one of the most difficult occupations for which to locate qualified workers. The combination of growing demand and limited supply are likely to result in shortages of plumbers in Calgary over the next decade. In order to satisfy the growing demand for plumbers, Calgary employers may need to access labour markets outside of Calgary, including international labour markets, to meet a portion of their hiring needs. To facilitate targeted recruiting efforts, Calgary Economic Development (CED) has created this guide to identify the best cities and regions for recruiting workers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Top cities and regions for recruiting are recommended based on the size of the occupational labour force and the likelihood that workers will migrate out of the area.

Top Locations for Recruiting in Canada

For each CMA, an out-migration probability index score has been estimated that gives an indication of the likelihood that workers in a city will make a long-distance move out of that city. 3 Out-migration probability index scores are comparatively high for plumbers in Halifax, Hamilton, Qubec City, Oshawa, Ottawa, and Montral and plumbers in these cities have lower average annual incomes than that of Calgary. Average hourly wages in Calgary were $30.78 in 2009. Plumbers have average hourly wages of approximately $28.00 per hour in Montral and wages of $25.70 or less in Halifax, Hamilton, Qubec City, Oshawa, and Ottawa.
1 2

See Calgary Labour Demand Forecast 2012 See Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2009 3 An out-migration probability index of workers is estimated based on a set of factors that are indicators of future migration. Factors include historical migration patterns, demographics of the occupational labour force, local economic conditions, median income, and the presence of foreign workers in the labour force.

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Out-migration probability scores are high in most Canadian cities (compared to scores on other occupations) and therefore Calgary employers may prefer to recruit in the largest markets. Toronto, Montral, and Vancouver have the largest labour force of plumbers among the toprecommended cities, each with over 3,000 workers. Younger workers have a higher probability of making an inter-provincial move and workers under age 35 comprise about 39 per cent of the labour force in Toronto, 37 per cent in Montral and 48 per cent in Vancouver.
Table 1 Recruiting Indicators for Plumbers in Canada, by CMA
Percent of Occupational Labour Force International or NonCensus Metro Under Immigrants Rank Employment Inter-Provincial Permanent Area Age 35 to Canada 4 (2010) Migrants Residents (2010) 2001-2006 5 (5 Year Period) (2006) 1 Toronto 5,720 24.60 111 39% 5% 5% 1% 2 Montral 4,721 28.00 112 37% 2% 1% 0% 3 Vancouver 3,369 n.a. 111 48% 9% 6% 1% 4 Edmonton 2,590 28.68 109 53% 9% 0% 0% 5 Hamilton 1,295 24.77 112 34% 3% 1% 0% 6 Qubec 1,070 n.a. 112 37% 1% 0% 0% 7 Oshawa 960 25.70 112 40% 2% 0% 0% 8 Ottawa 849 22.51 112 43% 6% 1% 0% 9 Winnipeg 1,066 21.80 108 38% 4% 0% 1% 10 Halifax 516 25.70 114 34% 6% 0% 0% Calgary 2,869 30.78 109 49% 15% 3% 0% *See footnote 3 for additional information about the Emigration Probability Index. Note: Data is measured for Census Metropolitan Areas unless otherwise noted. Figures for Calgary may differ from information presented earlier in this report describing labour demand for the Calgary Economic Region. Sources: Labour Force Survey, 2006 Census of Canada, RDA Global, Labour Market Information - HRSDC WorkingInCanada.gc.ca Average Wage Per Hour Emigration Probability Index

Figures for employment in Calgary are for the Calgary Economic Region. Figures for other cities are for the census metropolitan area (CMA) 5 International and inter-provincial migration statistics are analyzed based on data collected in the 2001 and 2006 Census. The data required to analyze this migration pattern for the most recent 5 year period is not available at the time of this analysis.

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Table 2 Wages for Plumbers in Canada, by CMA

Recent Wage Range (CAD) Census Metro Area Low Wage Average Wage High Wage Reference Year Provincial Annual Wages or 6 Salary, 2005 Median Average

Toronto 14.14 24.60 36.92 2010* 49,271 51,268 Montral 26.50 28.00 38.00 46,205 47,017 Vancouver n.a. n.a. n.a. 42,006 45,254 Edmonton 17.00 28.68 39.60 2011 46,675 55,905 Hamilton 14.00 24.77 35.52 2010 49,271 51,268 Qubec n.a. n.a. n.a. 46,205 47,017 Oshawa 15.00 25.70 38.40 2010 49,271 51,268 Ottawa 14.00 22.51 33.50 2010 49,271 51,268 Winnipeg 15.80 21.80 31.30 2010 41,354 42,986 Halifax 13.00 25.70 32.35 2010 40,643 42,450 Calgary 17.00 30.78 37.68 2009 62,556 64,206 Note: Data is measured for Census Metropolitan Areas unless otherwise noted. *Wage data reflects provincial average. Sources: 2006 Census, Labour Market Information - HRSDC WorkingInCanada.gc.ca

Top Locations for Recruiting in the United States

In the United States, the occupation that is most closely aligned with NOC 7251 Plumbers is: SOC 47-2152: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston are recommended for recruiting based on high outmigration probability index scores for plumbers in these cities.7 Younger workers have a higher probability of making a long-distance move, and workers in all three cities have a comparatively high percentage of workers under age 35. Average annual wages for plumbers in Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston ranged from $42,500 to $46,900 in 2010, which is lower than average annual base pay in Calgary at around CAD $64,000 in 2009. Los Angeles (L.A.) has the largest labour force among recommended US cities, with over 10,000 plumbers, as well as a large non-US citizen component of the labour force. Non-US citizen workers have a higher probability of making a long distance move, and they comprise 30 per cent of the population of plumbers in L.A. Unemployment is currently high in L.A., at 10.7 per cent which may push some families and workers to seek work outside of the area. The mean annual wage for plumbers in L.A. was $56,680 in 2010.

Calgary median annual salary is calculated based on average hours worked per week and median hourly wage rate reported in the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. The average annual salary is the actual figure from the survey. Annual figures for other cities in Table 2 are from HRSDC. 7 The out-migration probability score is measured based on analysis of data from the American Community Survey which measures migration history for workers in all US cities and includes measures for plumbers.

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Table 3 Out-Migration Indicators of Plumbers in Top 10 US Cities, 2010

Pct. of Number Pct. Of Out-Migration Workers who Unemployment Rank Metro Area of Mean Age Workers Probability are Non-US Rate Workers Under Age 35 Index* Citizens 1 Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA 10,200 30% 41 33% 115 10.7 2 Houston-Brazoria, TX 8,840 23% 41 37% 117 7.6 3 Washington, DC/MD/VA 9,480 17% 42 33% 114 5.4 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 6,680 25% 39 40% 118 7.4 5 Chicago, IL 9,860 7% 43 31% 112 9.6 6 Boston, MA-NH 7,110 4% 42 30% 112 5.7 7 Atlanta, GA 5,280 14% 41 36% 117 9.2 8 Phoenix, AZ 3,940 23% 39 44% 121 7.7 9 San Francisco-Oakland-Vallejo, CA 5,020 16% 41 37% 115 8.7 10 St. Louis, MO-IL 5,260 1% 43 27% 113 8.2 United States 358,790 10% 42 33% 115 8.2 *The Out-Migration Probability Index gives an indication of the number of workers in the target occupation in each metropolitan area that have made an interregional move in the past 5 years. The index also reflects factors that may affect worker migration, such as historical migration patterns, demographics of the occupational labour force, local economic conditions, median income, and the presence of foreign workers in the labour force. US Average Out-Migration Probability = 100 (for all US workers in all occupations).

Table 4 Wages of Plumbers in Top Ranked Cities for Recruiting in the United States, 2010
Median Salary by Quartile (USD) Mean Hourly Mean Annual Wage** Salary** Lower Lower Upper Median Upper 25% (USD) (USD) 10% 25% 10% Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA 10,200 27.25 56,680 29,670 39,570 54,000 73,070 89,610 Houston-Brazoria, TX 8,840 22.53 46,870 27,090 35,370 46,840 56,000 65,260 Washington, DC/MD/VA 9,480 24.62 51,200 29,430 38,210 48,520 62,310 77,920 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 6,680 20.45 42,540 26,080 33,530 42,200 52,440 59,560 Chicago, IL 9,860 33.65 69,990 36,080 56,280 72,880 88,300 98,510 Boston, MA-NH 7,110 29.85 62,090 32,990 43,770 57,790 78,250 101,870 Atlanta, GA 5,280 21.68 45,090 28,840 35,480 43,690 52,410 66,230 Phoenix, AZ 3,940 21.30 44,310 27,770 34,040 43,170 52,800 65,420 San Francisco-Oakland-Vallejo, CA 5,020 31.42 65,350 32,650 45,200 61,690 89,420 103,310 St. Louis, MO-IL 5,260 28.39 59,060 31,610 47,180 63,660 72,570 80,630 United States 358,790 24.21 50,360 27,580 35,110 46,660 62,860 79,920 Calgary (in $ CAD) 2,869 $30.78 $64,206 n.a. **Source for Calgary wage and salary figures is the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. Results are updated every 2 years. At the time of this analysis 2011 figures were not yet published. US Data Sources: Bureau of Labour Statistics Occupational Employment Database, American Community Survey, US Census 2010. Analysis by RDA Global. Metropolitan Statistical Area Workers

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Top Locations for Recruiting in the United Kingdom and Ireland

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the occupation most closely related to plumbers is: UK SOC 5314 Plumbers, Heating and Ventilating Engineers, or IE SOC 5314 Plumbers, Heating & Related Trades. In 2010, there were approximately 188,000 plumbers in the UK labour force and approximately 10,600 plumbers in the Irish labour force. Average annual income for plumbers in the UK was almost 29,000 in 2010 (approximately CAD $46,000). Annual wage data for plumbers in Ireland could not be identified through government sources, but hourly minimum rates for workers in construction-related trades (including plumbers) indicates that hourly wages in Calgary are about 30 per cent higher than that of craftsmen in Ireland (see Table 5 for more detail about wage rates of Irish construction workers, and Table 7 for occupations in each class). In the UK, the top regions for recruiting plumbers are the North West Region, which includes Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Blackpool; the South West Region, which includes Bristol, Bournemouth, and Plymouth; and Yorkshire & Humberside which includes Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, and Hull. The largest group of workers can be found in the North West, followed by Scotland, with about 28,000 and 24,000 workers, respectively. The economic recession that began in 2008 in Ireland may push some plumbers to look for work abroad. As of November, 2011, Ireland had one of the highest levels of unemployment in the European Union at 14.6 per cent. Construction activity in Ireland has declined sharply during the recession and employment in the construction sector has declined by 60 per cent since June 2008 (a reduction of 164,200 workers in the construction industry between June 2008 and June 2011). Overall out-migration from Ireland is estimated to have reached 76,400 in the year between April 2010 and April 2011, an increase of 11,100 (or 16.9 per cent) above the 65,300 recorded in the year to April 2010. 8 A national recruiting strategy in Ireland can be effective, due to the small geographic size of the country and recruiting may be conducted from either Dublin or Cork, Irelands two largest cities. 9

8 9

See CSO Population and Migration Estimates, April 2011 Regional labour force data and data on wages are not available in Ireland.

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Foreign Credential Recognition When recruiting plumbers in the UK and Ireland, Alberta employers may wish to consult Albertas Apprenticeship and Industry Training Center in Edmonton, to learn about specific requirements that workers must meet in order to work in Alberta. Albertas Department of Human Services may also be of assistance in helping employers navigate the potential difficulties associated with recruiting workers from abroad. For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/working/occupations.aspx.
Table 5 Approved Statutory Minimum Hourly Wage Rates for Construction Workers in Ireland
Class of Worker Craftsmen 2006 Euro 17.71 5.90 8.86 13.28 15.94 17.18 16.12 15.58 14.17 CAD $24.18 8.05 12.10 18.13 21.76 23.45 22.01 21.27 19.34 2007 Euro 18.15 6.05 9.08 13.61 16.34 17.61 16.52 15.97 14.52 CAD $24.78 8.26 12.40 18.58 22.31 24.04 22.55 21.80 19.82 2008 Euro 18.60 6.20 9.30 13.95 16.74 18.04 16.93 16.37 14.88 CAD $25.39 8.46 12.70 19.04 22.85 24.63 23.11 22.35 20.31 2011 Euro 17.21 5.73 8.61 12.91 15.49 16.69 15.66 15.14 13.77 CAD $23.49 7.82 11.75 17.62 21.15 22.78 21.38 20.67 18.80 $30.78

1st year 2nd year Apprentices 3rd year 4th year Grade A Grade B Construction Operatives Grade C Grade D Calgary Hourly Wage (2009) Sources: Irish Labour Court, Statutory Minimum Rates of Pay: www.labourcourt.ie/labour/labour.nsf/LookupPageLink/ HomeRatesOfPay; 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. Average month-end annual 2010 exchange rate: 1=$1.3652 CAD.

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Table 6 Recruiting Indicators for Plumbers - UK and Ireland, 2010

Percentage of Workers who are NonNational Citizens 2% 3% 1% Percentage of Workers who are Non-EU Citizens 1% 0% 0% Pct. Of Workers Under Age 35 OutMigration Probability Index** Median Annual Income 2010 (GBP) 27,275 25,081 26,482 Median Annual Income 2010 (CAD) $43,391 39,901 42,129 Mean Annual Income 2010 (GBP) 27,080 25,160 27,394 Mean Annual Income 2010 (CAD) $43,081 40,026 43,580

Rank

Region/ Country

Major Cities

Number of Workers

Median Age*

1 2 3

North West South West Yorkshire & Humberside South East Scotland

4 5

Eastern West Midlands London East Midlands North East

Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool Bristol, Bournemouth, Plymouth Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen Greater London, Cambridge, Norwich, Peterborough, Ipswich Birmingham, Coventry Greater London Nottingham-Derby, Leicester, Northampton Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne

27,500 21,100 18,400

40 43.5 36

39% 29% 46%

103 103 103

18,100 24,100

9% 12%

0% 1%

45 39

23% 37%

103 102

32,858 25,564

52,273 40,669

33,738 27,018

53,673 42,982

15,200

6%

1%

40

34%

103

28,529

45,386

28,219

44,893

7 8 9 10

14,900 9,000 15,100 9,000

5% 13% 3% 5%

4% 6% 0% 0%

41.5 43 44 40

39% 35% 27% 32%

103 105 103 102

29,008 32,693 28,193 23,893

46,148 52,010 44,851 38,011

31,417 33,875 28,381 27,191

49,980 53,891 45,151 43,257

Total UK 188,200 5% 1% 41 34% 103 27,829 $44,273 28,926 $46,017 Total Ireland 10,600 6% n.a. 40 25% 104 See Table 5 Calgary 2,869 n.a. 49% n.a. $64,206 *British data source reports median age figures, while Irish and US data sources report mean age figures. ** Out-Migration index scores for the UK are not directly comparable with those of cities in the US or Ireland. Sources: Quarterly British Labour Force Survey, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (UK, 2010), Central Statistics Office Ireland (2010), Analysis by RDA Global.

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Table 7 Construction-Related Occupations in Ireland, by Grade

Craftsmen and Related Apprentices Bricklayers, Stonelayers Carpenters and Joiners Floorlayers Glaziers Painters Plasterers Plumbers Slaters and Tilers Stonecutters Woodcutting Machinists Construction Operatives Grade A Banksman Concrete Pumps with Hydraulic Booms > 30 metres in length Crawler Crane Operator Dozers > 40 tonnes operating weight Hydraulic Excavator > 50 tonnes operating weight Mobile Crane Operator Scaffolders with Advanced Scaffolding Card and four years' experience Steel Fixers Tower Crane Operator, including Self-Erecting Tower Crane Operator Grade B Articulated Dump Trucks > 30 tonnes carrying capacity Bar Bender & Reinforcement Fixer (Ability to read drawings) Bulldozer Operator Concrete Pumps with Hydraulic Booms < 30 metres in length Concrete Workers i.e. Concrete Finishers, Screeders, Guniters, and Grouters, Large Batching mixing Concrete Batching Plants Crushing Plants / Screening Plants Directional Drill Rigs (for pipe laying) Excavator Loaders Heavy Duty Telescopic Fork-Lift Operator Hydraulic Excavators > 20 tonnes operating weight Kerb / Flagstone Layers Motor Grader Operator Motor Scraper Operator Multi-Purpose Excavator / Loader Operator Pipe Layers Plant Operative, Concrete Pump Operator Pneumatic / Hydraulic Crawler on Wheeled Drill Rigs Remote Controlled Mini-Tower Cranes Scaffolders with Basic Scaffolding Card Telescopic Handlers Truck Drive 9 16 tonne gross vehicle weight Operatives attending Tradesmen paid on piecework / incentive schemes Grade C Articulated Dump Trucks < 30 tonnes carrying weight Concrete Mixers Concrete gang operatives not included in Grade B Hoist and Fork-lift Operator Hydraulic Excavators < 20 tonnes operating weight Loading Shovels < 20 tonnes operating weight Operating Pot Mixer Operating Site Dumpers / Tractors / Power Rollers / Dump Trucks / Small Mixers, etc. Pneumatic and Electric Hand Tools Concrete Saws Rollers Dead Weight or Vibratory, Pedestrial or Ride-on Site Dumpers Soil / Landfill Compactors < 30 tonnes operating weight Tractors Truck and Van Drivers 1-9 tonne capacity Trucks < 16 tonnes gross vehicle weight Using Mechanical or Electrical tools, for example, Polisher / Hammers such as a Bush or Kango Hammers / Pneumatic Drills / Grinders / Stone or Concrete Saws and similar such equipment Vans & Pick-Ups Grade D New Entrants Construction Operatives who are capable of carrying out basic general labouring requirements, including occasional operation of small plant items.

Sources: Irish Labour Court, Statutory Minimum Rates of Pay: www.labourcourt.ie/labour/labour.nsf/LookupPageLink/HomeRatesOfPay; Pages 28-29.

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