The workforce of the Canadian Pacific Railway consisted largely of Chinese, Italian, Eastern European, and Slavic immigrants who were paid significantly lower wages than Canadian workers. It is estimated that at the peak of construction, there were around 20,000 Chinese workers making up almost half of the railway's entire workforce.
Other Workers:
Apart from immigrant laborers, many experienced civil engineers, surveyors, foremen, and supervisors from Canada, the United States, and Europe were hired to undertake critical tasks and provide expertise in railway construction.