June 11, 2008

B.C. leads construction job growth, says CSC report

VICTORIA

British Columbia leads the country in construction employment growth as the number of construction projects hits a record high according to this year’s forecast from the Construction Sector Council (CSC).

Major projects relating to the Olympics, Asia Pacific Gateway, mining manufacturing and utilities are turning up the pressure on British Columbia’s most precious resource - its skilled labour force, which has grown by 70% to 139,000 workers since 2001.

“While there’s stiff competition for skilled workers right across Canada, this is where we really need them,” said Clyde Scollan, President of the BC Construction Labour Relations Association.

The information is contained in the Construction Sector Council’s (CSC) fourth annual edition of “Construction Looking Forward.”

The report finds that 26,500 new workers will be required from now until 2016 to replace retiring Baby Boomers. Another 21,000 workers will be needed to keep pace with new projects in B.C.

“Convincing those on the verge of retirement to stay on longer will help,” said Manley McLachlan, President of the BC Construction Association. “We also need to increase the number of immigrants, temporary foreign workers and more aggressively recruit youth, women and Aboriginals to keep projects on schedule.”

DCN News Services

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