Ottawa – The ramp-up of major projects starting next year, from planned pipeline to transportation and liquefied natural gas (LNG), may create significant recruitment challenges, with as many as 16,000 new workers needed over the next three years, according to the latest labour market forecast released today by BuildForce Canada.
“This may be the largest surge in engineering construction in recent memory, and it’s happening at a time when many skilled trades are already in short supply,” said Bill Ferreira, Executive Director of BuildForce Canada. “BC’s construction workforce will need to expand by up to 23 percent by 2021 to meet project requirements. That takes careful planning.”
BuildForce Canada’s 2018–2027 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward forecast shows that while the pace of construction growth is expected to moderate slightly in British Columbia this year, major expansion will start in 2019 and 2020, driven by a diverse group of gas, pipeline, utility, civil, and public transportation projects. The sheer volume of these projects is significant if they proceed as planned. As projects approach completion between 2022 and 2025, employment will decline, but stay above current levels. It’s anticipated that commercial and institutional building construction will continue to grow, while the pace of residential construction may recede, starting this year through to 2024, as many large condo projects near completion. Gains in non-residential construction will help to offset job losses in residential construction, returning total employment to current levels.
BuildForce Canada’s forecast also shows:
“The retirement of well over 40,000 workers, or approximately 22 percent of the construction workforce this decade will add to recruitment challenges,” said Ferreira. “Tradespeople with specialized skills and experience will be in demand for major projects, especially in remote regions.”
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.
For further information, contact Bill Ferreira, Executive Director, BuildForce Canada, at Ferreira@buildforce.ca or (613)-569-5552 ext. 222.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program.
