Alberta's construction industry isn't just building the province—with over 173,000 workers earning some of Canada's highest wages, it's powering a historic economic boom that's creating opportunity, confronting a massive retirement wave, and racing to fill thousands of new, high-demand jobs every year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the construction industry in Alberta employed 173,200 workers, representing 8.7% of total provincial employment
- Alberta's construction workforce grew by 4.2% year-over-year in 2023, adding 7,100 jobs primarily in residential and non-residential sectors
- Women accounted for 13.5% of Alberta's construction workforce in 2022, up from 11.8% in 2019, with gains in skilled trades roles
- Construction GDP contribution in Alberta was $17.4 billion in 2022, 7.2% of provincial GDP
- Total construction investment in Alberta reached $28.5 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
- Residential construction added $8.2 billion to Alberta GDP in 2022
- Engineering construction contracts awarded: $15.2 billion, Alberta 2022
- Number of residential building permits issued in Alberta: 45,200 in 2023
- Major oil sands projects under construction: 12 projects valued at $25 billion total, Alberta 2023
- Lost-time injury frequency rate in Alberta construction: 1.2 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022
- Fatalities in construction: 28 incidents in Alberta 2022, 42% fall-related
- Musculoskeletal injuries: 35% of all construction claims in Alberta, 2023 data
- Construction employment forecast: 185,000 workers needed by 2032 in Alberta, +7% growth
- Residential construction outlook: 22,000 annual starts projected 2024-2028 Alberta
- Non-residential investment forecast: $32 billion annually average 2024-2033 Alberta
Alberta's construction industry is booming with strong growth and persistent labor shortages.
Economic Impact
- Construction GDP contribution in Alberta was $17.4 billion in 2022, 7.2% of provincial GDP
- Total construction investment in Alberta reached $28.5 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
- Residential construction added $8.2 billion to Alberta GDP in 2022
- Non-residential construction revenue: $45.6 billion in Alberta, 2023 preliminary
- Engineering construction GDP impact: $6.9 billion, 2022 Alberta data
- Construction sector multiplier effect generated $52 billion in total economic output for Alberta in 2022
- Average construction firm revenue in Alberta: $12.4 million annually, 2023 survey
- Taxes paid by Alberta construction industry: $3.8 billion in 2022, including GST and corporate
- Construction exports from Alberta services: $1.2 billion in 2023, mainly to US and BC
- Oil sands construction spending contributed $9.1 billion to GDP, Alberta 2022
- Pipeline projects added $2.4 billion economic impact in Alberta construction, 2023
- Institutional building construction revenue: $4.7 billion, Alberta 2022
- Industrial construction GDP share: 28% of sector total in Alberta, 2023
- Commercial construction output: $7.3 billion, Alberta 2022 data
- Construction productivity growth in Alberta: 1.8% annually 2018-2022
- Total assets of Alberta construction firms: $156 billion in 2022
- R&D spending by Alberta construction: $420 million in 2023, 0.9% of revenue
- Construction inflation rate in Alberta: 6.5% in 2023, driven by materials
- Sector profit margins averaged 4.2% for Alberta construction firms in 2022
- Value of construction put-in-place: $26.8 billion in Alberta 2023
- Residential permits value: $12.1 billion in Alberta, 2023
- Non-residential building permits: $8.9 billion, Alberta 2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
Alberta’s construction sector is not just hammering nails; it's forging a $17.4 billion pillar of the provincial economy, driving everything from homes to oil sands while paying its $3.8 billion in dues with a profit margin thinner than a carpenter's pencil.
Employment
- In 2022, the construction industry in Alberta employed 173,200 workers, representing 8.7% of total provincial employment
- Alberta's construction workforce grew by 4.2% year-over-year in 2023, adding 7,100 jobs primarily in residential and non-residential sectors
- Women accounted for 13.5% of Alberta's construction workforce in 2022, up from 11.8% in 2019, with gains in skilled trades roles
- Indigenous workers made up 7.2% of Alberta construction employees in 2021, concentrated in trades like carpentry and equipment operation
- Average hourly wage for construction workers in Alberta reached $35.67 in Q4 2023, 15% above national average due to oil sands demand
- Construction apprentices in Alberta numbered 28,400 in 2022, with 65% in industrial and commercial trades
- Youth aged 15-24 comprised 22.3% of Alberta's construction hires in 2023, driven by entry-level labourer positions
- Self-employed construction workers in Alberta totaled 42,500 in 2021, 24% of total sector employment
- Unionized construction workers represented 38.4% of Alberta's sector workforce in 2022, highest in heavy civil engineering
- Immigrants filled 19.6% of Alberta construction jobs in 2023, with peaks in welding and electrical trades
- Visible minorities accounted for 25.1% of Alberta construction employees in 2021 census data
- Construction unemployment rate in Alberta was 6.8% in 2023, below national 7.5% due to infrastructure boom
- Alberta construction firms reported 12,400 job vacancies in Q3 2023, vacancy rate of 7.2%
- Older workers (55+) made up 18.9% of Alberta construction workforce in 2022, facing retirement wave of 15,000 by 2025
- Electrical trade employment in Alberta construction hit 15,200 in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Plumbers and pipefitters numbered 12,100 in Alberta construction, 2022, with 3,200 apprentices
- Heavy equipment operators in construction reached 18,500 employed in Alberta, 2023
- Carpenters employed 22,400 in Alberta construction industry, 2022 data
- Labourers in construction totaled 45,600 in Alberta, representing 26% of workforce, 2023
- Supervisors in construction management: 9,800 employed in Alberta, 2022
- Welders in construction: 14,300 jobs in Alberta, 2023, driven by pipeline projects
- Construction estimators and managers: 7,200 employed, average salary $105,000, Alberta 2023
- Ironworkers: 4,100 in Alberta construction, 2022
- Painters and decorators: 8,500 employed in Alberta construction sector, 2023
- Roofers: 3,200 jobs in Alberta construction, vacancy rate 5.8%, 2023
- Sheet metal workers: 5,600 in Alberta, 2022
- Bricklayers: 2,900 employed, Alberta construction 2023
- Insulators: 2,400 in construction workforce, Alberta 2022
- Glaziers: 1,800 jobs, Alberta construction industry 2023
Employment Interpretation
Alberta's construction industry is a booming, high-wage mosaic where nearly one in ten workers is building the province's future, though it must urgently attract youth, women, and immigrants to patch the holes left by an impending retirement wave and thousands of current vacancies.
Projects
- Engineering construction contracts awarded: $15.2 billion, Alberta 2022
- Number of residential building permits issued in Alberta: 45,200 in 2023
- Major oil sands projects under construction: 12 projects valued at $25 billion total, Alberta 2023
- Highway and road construction contracts: $3.4 billion awarded in Alberta 2023
- New single-family home starts: 18,500 units in Alberta 2023
- Multi-family starts: 12,400 units, Alberta 2023
- Hospital and healthcare construction projects: 8 active, $2.1 billion value, Alberta 2022-2023
- School construction investments: $1.8 billion for 25 new facilities, Alberta 2023
- Renewable energy construction (wind/solar): $4.2 billion in projects, Alberta 2023
- TMX pipeline construction phase completion: 98% complete, $30.9 billion total cost impact to Alberta, 2023
- Industrial expansions in petrochemicals: 5 projects worth $6.5 billion, Alberta 2023
- Data center constructions: 3 new facilities, $1.2 billion investment, Alberta 2022-2024
- Retail commercial developments: 42 projects, $900 million value, Alberta 2023 permits
- Bridge and culvert projects: 150 contracts, $850 million, Alberta transportation 2023
- Water treatment plant upgrades: 22 projects, $1.1 billion total, Alberta municipalities 2023
- Affordable housing initiatives: 5,200 units under construction, $1.4 billion funded, Alberta 2023
- Stadium and arena builds/renos: 7 projects, $650 million, Alberta 2022-2023
- Mining infrastructure projects: 9 sites, $3.2 billion, Alberta 2023
- Airport expansions: Edmonton and Calgary terminals, $1.5 billion combined, 2023
- Total value of construction starts: $31.2 billion in Alberta 2023
Projects Interpretation
While Alberta's economy is still firmly cemented in its oil and gas foundation, the province's $31 billion construction blitz reveals a growing ambition to build a more diversified, connected, and livable society, one hospital, solar farm, and data center at a time.
Safety
- Lost-time injury frequency rate in Alberta construction: 1.2 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022
- Fatalities in construction: 28 incidents in Alberta 2022, 42% fall-related
- Musculoskeletal injuries: 35% of all construction claims in Alberta, 2023 data
- Safety training certifications: 145,000 CSTS tickets issued to Alberta construction workers in 2023
- Heat-related incidents: 450 cases reported in Alberta construction summer 2023
- Crane-related incidents: 12 serious events, Alberta construction 2022
- PPE compliance rate: 92% in audited Alberta construction sites, 2023 OHS inspections
- Fall protection violations: 1,800 citations issued in Alberta construction, 2022
- Trenching collapse incidents: 5 fatalities, Alberta construction 2020-2023 average
- Drug and alcohol testing positive rate: 4.1% in Alberta construction sites, 2023
- Mental health claims: 12% increase to 2,800 cases in Alberta construction, 2022-2023
- Silica exposure violations: 320 notices, Alberta construction 2023
- Electrical shock incidents: 67 reported, 3 fatalities, Alberta construction 2022
- Vehicle incidents on site: 1,200 claims, $45 million cost, Alberta construction 2023
- Confined space entries: 2 fatalities, 45 injuries, Alberta construction 2022
- Hearing loss claims: 890 accepted, Alberta construction workers 2023
- OHS inspections conducted: 18,500 on Alberta construction sites in 2023
- Stop-work orders issued: 2,100 to construction firms, Alberta 2022
- Administrative penalties: $12.5 million levied on construction sector, Alberta 2023
- Near-miss reporting: 15,400 incidents logged via Alberta construction safety app, 2023
Safety Interpretation
Behind the impressive veneer of 145,000 safety certificates issued last year lies a sobering reality where the persistent, predictable hazards of falls, trenches, and the common ache still account for a shocking toll of lives, limbs, and minds.
Trends
- Construction employment forecast: 185,000 workers needed by 2032 in Alberta, +7% growth
- Residential construction outlook: 22,000 annual starts projected 2024-2028 Alberta
- Non-residential investment forecast: $32 billion annually average 2024-2033 Alberta
- Labour shortage projected: 22,000 unfilled construction jobs by 2029 in Alberta
- Modular construction adoption: Expected 25% of residential by 2027 in Alberta
- Green building certifications: 15% increase to 450 LEED projects in Alberta by 2025 forecast
- Digital twin tech adoption: 40% of large Alberta projects by 2026
- Prefab component use: Rising to 35% in commercial construction Alberta 2024-2028
- EV charging infrastructure builds: 5,000 stations planned 2024-2027 Alberta construction
- BIM software usage: 78% of Alberta contractors by 2025 projection
- Carbon capture projects: 10 new in construction phase by 2030, Alberta forecast
- Workforce aging trend: 25% retirement by 2031, needing 45,000 replacements Alberta construction
- Skilled trades demand growth: 12% for electricians 2023-2032 Alberta
- Infrastructure spending forecast: $45 billion public 2024-2029 Alberta
- Housing shortage driving: 250,000 units needed by 2030, construction boom Alberta
Trends Interpretation
Alberta's construction future is a thrilling yet daunting blueprint of opportunity, where the desperate need for 22,000 homes a year, 5,000 EV stations, and a small city's worth of workers collides head-on with the sobering reality that we're about to lose a quarter of our skilled workforce to retirement, all while trying to build smarter and greener with tech we're only just learning to use.
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