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Human Resources in Canada's Built Heritage Sector: Mapping the ...

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MAPPING THE WORK FORCE AND SETTING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES5. Estimates of Employment Co-Efficients and Share of Work by TradeThe usual procedure for gaug<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> number of persons employed <strong>in</strong> particular types of construction workis to formulate an estimate of <strong>the</strong> amount of employment that correlates to $1.0 million of spend<strong>in</strong>g on thattype of construction. This is known as <strong>the</strong> employment co-efficient of construction spend<strong>in</strong>g. These co-efficientsare developed us<strong>in</strong>g a sample of projects for which <strong>in</strong>formation is available. The co-efficients are <strong>the</strong>n appliedto <strong>the</strong> global estimates of spend<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> particular type of construction. For new construction, analysisalong <strong>the</strong>se l<strong>in</strong>es has been undertaken by <strong>the</strong> Ontario Construction Secretariat, among o<strong>the</strong>rs.In <strong>the</strong> built heritage sector, estimat<strong>in</strong>g employment co-efficients would require analyz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation onmajor projects. This <strong>in</strong>formation would have to be provided by major public sector sponsors of <strong>the</strong>seprojects and by architectural or o<strong>the</strong>r firms that operated as project managers. This analysis would also allowa fur<strong>the</strong>r set of estimates to be prepared estimat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> approximate share of work by trade. This <strong>in</strong>formationis important <strong>in</strong> identify<strong>in</strong>g priorities for <strong>the</strong> development of specific heritage sector skills.6. Better Estimates of <strong>the</strong> Stock of <strong>Heritage</strong> StructuresThe heritage value of a structure is a function of its age and its aes<strong>the</strong>tic, cultural or historical significance.Moreover, as described earlier, attitudes towards heritage value evolve. Many vernacular structures previouslynot thought of as hav<strong>in</strong>g significant heritage value are now understood to be important reflections of ourpast. In light of <strong>the</strong>se complexities, <strong>the</strong>re is no straight forward way to estimate <strong>the</strong> size of <strong>the</strong> heritage stock.However, it may be practical to use property assessment data to at least gauge <strong>the</strong> age and diversity ofconstructed assets. While this procedure would provide only a proximate <strong>in</strong>dicate of <strong>the</strong> heritage stock, itwould never<strong>the</strong>less be a useful contribution. In some jurisdictions, property assessment is a governmentalfunction. In o<strong>the</strong>rs, property assessment has been transferred to <strong>the</strong> private sector. While CMHC has dataon <strong>the</strong> age of <strong>the</strong> residential stock, <strong>the</strong>re is no similar <strong>in</strong>ventory of non-residential properties. The scope forus<strong>in</strong>g property assessment data should be explored.Recommendation No. 4Rectify<strong>in</strong>g Data DeficienciesThat <strong>the</strong> <strong>Built</strong> <strong>Heritage</strong> sector’s data needs be identified and prioritized, and strategies taken to rectify <strong>the</strong> mostserious data deficiencies.Background:These strategies could <strong>in</strong>clude customized surveys, systematic consultations, co-operationwith privately managed construction <strong>in</strong>dustry databases, and econometric modell<strong>in</strong>g.©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL55

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