B.C. construction industry poised for significant energy development

With the startup of major projects, British Columbia’s construction job growth will lead all other provinces from now to 2024, according to the latest forecast released by BuildForce Canada.

“Big engineering projects are starting, and commercial and residential building is gaining momentum,” said Rosemary Sparks, Executive Director of BuildForce Canada. “These industry dynamics will create a lot of new construction jobs and the need for steady recruiting, hiring and training.”

BuildForce Canada’s 2015-2024 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward forecast shows most construction markets gaining strength each year through the forecast period. New resource projects set the stage, with employment levels rising by up to 70 per cent by 2018. Growth is sustained beyond that by ongoing activity in industrial, commercial and institutional building. This will create short-term hiring peaks for select tradespeople in 2018. Job growth across most trades and occupations is expected to reach new historical highs by 2024.

BuildForce Canada’s forecast also shows:

• Employment rises by 16,000 jobs, or more than 20 per cent, in non-residential construction across the forecast period.
• Growth in residential renovation work will offset lower levels of new home construction, resulting in employment growth of 16 per cent, or 6,700 jobs.
• More than 39,000 workers will need to be hired over the next 10 years to offset rising retirements.

“Over 24 per cent of the construction workforce is retiring this decade, and local employers need to plan for that,” added Sparks. “The industry is losing years of skill and experience that can’t be easily replaced.”

BuildForce Canada is a national industry-led organization that represents all sectors of Canada’s construction industry. Its mandate is to provide accurate and timely labour market data and analysis, as well as programs and initiatives to help manage workforce requirements and build the capacity and the capability of Canada’s construction and maintenance workforce. Visit: www.constructionforecasts.ca