Ontario ICI Construction Contractors Bullish About Year Ahead

Toronto, ON - Ontario construction contractors are bullish about the amount of business they'll do in 2014, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Ontario Construction Secretariat.

Four in ten (40%) say they expect to do `more' (9% much more/30% somewhat more) business in 2014 compared to 2013, while just one in ten (11%) believe they'll do less (3% much less/8% somewhat less) than a year ago. Nearly half (49%) expect business to be steady, anticipating that it will be `about the same'. One percent (1%) does not know.

Thinking specifically about the work that they'll conduct in the commercial sector in 2014, a nearly 3 to 1 margin more believe that they'll do more business (25%) in 2014 than less (9%), while most (58%) believe their business will be about the same. One in ten (9%) are unsure.

Contractors in some sectors are more bullish than others:

• Among those who do work for the high-rise residential sector, 32% foresee their work rising, while 18% think the volume of work will fall. One half (49%) believe there will be no change in 2014, and 2% don't know.
• Among those who do work for the industrial and manufacturing sector, two in ten (23%) see an increase versus one in ten (14%) who foresee a decrease in business. Six in ten (61%) think it'll be about the same, and 2% don't know.
• Among those who work do work for the engineering and civil sector (power, waste, sewer, roads/bridges, etc.), two in ten (22%) believe the flow of work will increase compared to one in ten (8%) that believe it will decrease. Seven in ten (69%) forecast no change, and 1% doesn't know.
• Among those who work for the institutional/government sector, opinions are almost flat as equal proportions think they'll do more (17%) or less (16%) work, while 66% foresee no change and 1% are unsure.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between November 29th and December 23rd, 2013, on behalf of the Ontario Construction Secretariat. For this survey, a sample of 550 construction contractors working in Ontario was interviewed by telephone. Ipsos sourced business sample for the research. The margin of error for a sample of 550 interviews is +/- 4.2%, nineteen times out of twenty (95% confidence interval). The margin of error for sub-sections (i.e.. region) of the sample is larger, depending on the sample size.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Martin Hrobsky
Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
416.324.2900
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 85 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,789 billion (2.300 billion USD) in 2012.