EDMONTON – An industry group says Alberta could face a shortage of skilled labour despite layoffs in the oilpatch unless companies and governments keep training new workers.

BuildForce Canada is projecting a loss of 31-thousand construction jobs due to the downturn in the oilsands over the next four years, with many of those people heading to other provinces.

The group’s executive director, Rosemary Sparks, says the effects of the sputtering energy sector are expected to ripple out to residential and non-residential construction as well.

She says the skills gap will be worsened by the retirement of thousands of baby boomers by the end of the decade.

“You can’t wait for that cycle to turn around to start recruiting workers to replace the retiring workers. We have to make sure that we’re continuing to replenish the workforce,” She explained. “That is the challenge for the industry. Take four to five years to create a tradesperson going through the apprenticeship system and getting their skills.”

BuildForce Canada is forecasting the construction sector in Alberta will not bounce back until 2020.

She says it is crucial for industry to stay focused on recruiting young people and to maintain apprenticeship programs that take four or five years to complete.

Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador could also lose skilled workers due to the energy industry slump and retirements.

She says skilled tradespeople are expected to seek work in provinces such as British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba, which have more construction projects on the drawing board.