Victoria, B.C. (April 2, 2019) - The BC Construction Association (BCCA) and industry partners launched BC Construction Month today with the release of key construction sector statistics and the results of a province-wide survey that highlight the value of the sector to the provincial economy and the key issues facing employers and workers.
B.C.’s construction industry continues to be the No. 1 employer in B.C.’s goods sector, with more than 242,000 people relying directly on construction for a paycheque: that’s up 21% since 2014, and at 10% of the workforce, is more than any other sector, including forestry, mining, agriculture and fishing combined. As the sector and its role in the provincial economy continue to grow, skilled labour availability continues to be the top issue for most people regardless of age, labour affiliation, business type, or role in the industry. Productivity and procurement practices were also singled out at areas of concern.
Sponsored by BCCA, BCIT, WorkSafe BC, LNG Canada, Coastal GasLink, the BCCA Employee Benefits Trust, and others, BC Construction Month celebrates the many contributions B.C.’s construction industry makes across our province, in every community, every day. Today’s launch, which was held at a contractors’ breakfast at Camosun College’s Centre for Trades Education and Innovation in Victoria, also featured the debut of a worksite behaviour change campaign called “Don’t Be A Tool”.
The value of the construction industry’s economic contribution is evident in the latest statistics, available in the BCCA’s Spring 2019 Stat Pack.
KEY B.C. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STATISTICS:
“These numbers clearly show that construction is a key economic driver everywhere in B.C.,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “From the 180,000 tradespeople at its core to the labourers, architects, engineers, estimators, site supers and forepeople, union business managers, trainers, safety officers, manufacturers and suppliers, to the owners and back-office teams that make it all tick, construction is the heart of B.C.’s economy.”
A survey of more than 700 union and open-shop employers and employees in B.C.’s construction sector in late 2018 also reveals interesting perspectives about the industry in B.C. bccassn.xpr.cloud/stats
KEY B.C. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SURVEY FINDINGS:
While this is a time of unprecedented opportunity in BC’s construction industry, with thousands of jobs and $376BN in projects underway or on the horizon, enthusiasm is tempered by an array of complex economic and political challenges. Employers and owners in B.C. are closely watching increasing costs from steel and aluminum tariffs, small business taxes such as the Employer Health Tax, public sector procurement practices, a lack of prompt payment legislation (B.C. lags behind other Canadian jurisdictions in tackling this costly issue) and forced unionization through Project Labour Agreements positioned as Community Benefits Agreements.
Not all challenges are external: respondents also expressed frustration with an industry that is often slow to adopt technology and selling itself short in terms of innovation.
“We can do better with productivity,” challenges one respondent. “Construction project delivery can be too disconnected and adversarial. We need to implement better processes on more projects and maximize the limited resources we have to add full value.”
“Construction Month is the perfect opportunity to celebrate all the hard-working men and women of this industry who are creating a world-class built environment for British Columbians” says Atchison, “It’s also a chance to think about how we can work even better together across the private and public sector. The official proclamation from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, the support from our many Construction Month sponsors, the Contractor’s Breakfasts, the award events – all are catalysts for dialogue and innovation. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
For more information about B.C. Construction Month, visit http://www.constructionmonth.ca
For more information about the Builders Code, visit www.builderscode.ca
To view Don’t Be a Tool videos and posters, visit https://www.builderscode.ca/
About British Columbia Construction Association
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) works with four Regional Construction Associations (NRCA, SICA, VICA and VRCA) to serve more than 10,000 employers in the provinces industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) construction industry. BCCA’s programs and services include employee benefits (BCCA Employee Benefits), technology tools for bid and project management (BidCentral), and employment programs (Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP), Integrating Newcomers, LNG Canada Trades Training Fund, LNG Canada Connect). BCCA advocates on behalf of all employers to ensure British Columbia’s construction sector remains productive and resilient.
For more information about BCCA, please visit: https://bccassn.xpr.cloud/
- 30 -
CONTACTS:
BC Construction Association
Greg Descantes
604-646-3564
gdescantes@pacegroup.com
.jpg)
.png){kind=logo}
.jpg)
.jpg)
-01.png)
 (banner-large)-01.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.PNG)