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Engineering Services in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Chris DellaCamera Chris DellaCamera New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 54133CA

Revenue

$47.6bn

2024

$47.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

208k

Businesses

29,107

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Engineering Services in Canada industry analysis

The Engineering Services industry in Canada, which provides consulting, design, feasibility studies and technical services for various projects, has grown with improved downstream demand from several key markets, especially commodities-driven industries. Through 2019, the low prices of oil limited growth, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the decline in global demand. However, rapid growth in oil and gas has driven a tremendous upswing in new demand from oil, gas and mining clients, propelling industry revenue to rise 13.6% in 2022 alone. Despite volatility, industry revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 4.3% to $47.6 billion over the five years to 2024, including 2.6% during the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Pandemic-driven volatility in commodity prices has led to fluctuating demand for engineering services. These services in Canada are closely tied to extraction industries, which initiate and halt projects based on resource price movements.
  • Commodity prices drive energy, mining, metal, and chemical services. Global demand for hydrocarbon energy affects prices and extraction trends, which engineering companies rely on for new projects. This dependency highlights the critical link between commodity prices and engineering services.
  • Ontario is the top province for engineering companies. High demand is driven by commercial investment and residential construction. This makes Ontario a key hub for the engineering sector in Canada.
  • Large companies have a substantial advantage over small firms. Engineering projects across various segments require significant scale and financial resources. These projects often necessitate extensive capital and workforce, which large companies can more readily provide.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $47.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Fluctuating commodity prices have dictated downstream demand

  • Canadian engineering firms depend on demand from clients that work in resource extraction, especially in resource-rich provinces like Alberta. Canada is a major producer and exporter of natural resources and commodity prices ultimately drive demand from firms tied to these industries.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Engineering Services in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Despite projected declined, commodity prices will remain elevated

  • Global oil and gas prices will continue to temper moving forward, continuing trends that began during the second half of 2022.

Biggest companies in the Engineering Services in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
WSP Global Inc.
1,436.8
149.8
10.4
SNC-Lavalin Group
1,018.2
N/A
N/A
Stantec Inc.
400.0
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Engineering Services in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transportation services, Power generation and Residential, commercial and institutional building. Transportation services is the largest segment of the Engineering Services in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Advisory, project management, environmental and other services are universally required

  • These services are typically included in bundled services. However, some companies require independent engineering services for compliance or insurance reasons.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry apply the physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development and use of machines, materials, instruments, structures, processes and systems. Industry services involve providing advice; preparing plans, designs and feasibility studies; providing technical services during construction or installation activities; inspecting and evaluating engineering projects; and other related services.

What's included in this industry?

Designing and managing construction and engineering infrastructure projectsProject planning and providing economic assessments Providing design and management services for industrial processes and equipment Providing feasibility studies, including environmental impact assessment and community consultationDesign and management for environmental projectsProviding chemical and electrical engineering services

Companies

WSP Global Inc.SNC-Lavalin GroupStantec Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN (CAD)NONEMPLOYER ESTABLISHMENTINDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 541330 - Engineering Services in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Pandemic-driven volatility in commodity prices has led to fluctuating demand for engineering services. These services in Canada are closely tied to extraction industries, whi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Commodity prices drive energy, mining, metal, and chemical services. Global demand for hydrocarbon energy affects prices and extraction trends, which engineering companies re...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario is the top province for engineering companies. High demand is driven by commercial investment and residential construction. This makes Ontario a key hub for the engin...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Large companies have a substantial advantage over small firms. Engineering projects across various segments require significant scale and financial resources. These projects ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Nearly two-thirds of engineering companies in Canada are small enterprises. In fact, most are run by a single individual. This indicates a highly fragmented industry dominate...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of WSP Global Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of SNC-Lavalin Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Stantec Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for WSP Global Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for SNC-Lavalin Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Stantec Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Engineering demands considerable education and licensing. Engineers Canada oversees mandatory membership in each province. Their role is to ensure standards and competencies ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit margins are increasing due to higher demand for commodity-driven services. However, fierce competition limits the full impact of this demand on profits. Despite rising...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Engineering Services industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Engineering Services industry in Canada is $47.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Engineering Services in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 29,107 businesses in the Engineering Services industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Engineering Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Engineering Services industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Engineering Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Engineering Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Engineering Services market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Engineering Services market in Canada are WSP Global Inc., SNC-Lavalin Group and Stantec Inc.

What does the Engineering Services in Canada include?

Designing and managing construction and engineering infrastructure projects and Project planning and providing economic assessments are part of the Engineering Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Engineering Services in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is WSP Global Inc..

How competitive is the Engineering Services industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Engineering Services industry in Canada.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.