Boasting an impressive 233,000 workers who power nearly 10% of the province's jobs, British Columbia's construction industry is a vibrant and complex economic engine, yet beneath its towering successes lie critical challenges and opportunities that will define its future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, British Columbia's construction industry employed 233,000 workers, representing 9.2% of total provincial employment
- The average hourly wage for construction workers in BC was $32.45 in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- Women accounted for 13.4% of the BC construction workforce in 2022, an increase from 11.8% in 2019
- BC construction industry contributed $18.7 billion to provincial GDP in 2022, or 8.9% of total
- Construction sector GDP growth in BC was 5.2% in 2022, outpacing provincial average of 3.1%
- Total construction investment in BC reached $42.3 billion in 2023
- Total residential building permits issued in BC reached 45,200 units in 2023, valued at $22.1 billion
- Non-residential building permits in BC totaled $7.6 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
- 12,500 housing starts in Metro Vancouver in 2023, 55% of provincial total
- Fatalities in BC construction: 28 in 2022, rate of 12.0 per 100,000 workers
- Lost-time injury claims in BC construction: 8,450 in 2022, frequency rate 2.1 per 100 workers
- Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 42% of BC construction claims in 2023
- Residential construction starts in BC expected to decline 20% to 35,000 units in 2024
- Non-residential construction growth forecast at 3.5% annually to 2028 in BC
- Labour demand in BC construction projected to grow 12% to 260,000 jobs by 2033
BC's construction industry is growing with strong job creation but faces persistent labour shortages.
Construction Projects
- Total residential building permits issued in BC reached 45,200 units in 2023, valued at $22.1 billion
- Non-residential building permits in BC totaled $7.6 billion in 2023, up 12% from 2022
- 12,500 housing starts in Metro Vancouver in 2023, 55% of provincial total
- BC completed 28,400 new dwelling units in 2023
- Infrastructure projects under BC Major Projects Inventory: 156 valued at $95 billion in 2023
- Renewable energy construction projects in BC: 24 projects worth $18.2 billion active in 2023
- Hospital construction spending in BC: $1.4 billion in 2023
- Transit infrastructure projects in BC valued at $15.7 billion, including SkyTrain expansions
- Single-family home completions in BC: 9,800 units in 2023
- Multi-unit residential starts: 22,700 units in BC 2023
- School construction projects: 45 new builds/renos valued at $2.1 billion in BC 2023
- Oil and gas pipeline construction in NE BC: $3.2 billion invested 2023
- Retail commercial space completed: 1.2 million sq ft in BC 2023
- Port expansion projects in BC: $4.8 billion including Container Terminal 3
- Affordable housing units under construction: 12,000 in BC 2023 via BC Housing
- Highway 1 expansions: 120 km under construction valued at $5.6 billion in 2023
- Office building completions: 850,000 sq m in Vancouver area 2023
- LNG Canada project Phase 1: 85% complete with $36 billion total investment
Construction Projects Interpretation
We are trying, with varying degrees of frenzy and focus, to build an entire second British Columbia right on top of the first one, all while people are still trying to live in it.
Economic Contribution
- BC construction industry contributed $18.7 billion to provincial GDP in 2022, or 8.9% of total
- Construction sector GDP growth in BC was 5.2% in 2022, outpacing provincial average of 3.1%
- Total construction investment in BC reached $42.3 billion in 2023
- Residential construction accounted for 52% of BC's construction GDP in 2022
- Non-residential construction spending in BC was $19.8 billion in 2023, up 7% YoY
- Engineering construction contributed $8.4 billion to BC GDP in 2022
- BC construction exports (services) valued at $1.2 billion in 2022
- Tax revenues from BC construction industry totaled $4.5 billion in 2023 fiscal year
- Multiplier effect of construction spending in BC estimated at 2.8, generating $2.80 in GDP per $1 invested
- Institutional construction GDP share in BC was 15% or $3.1 billion in 2022
- BC construction firms paid $9.2 billion in wages and salaries in 2022
- Industrial construction investment in BC hit $6.7 billion in 2023
- Construction supported 1 in 11 BC jobs indirectly through supply chain in 2022
- Provincial sales tax from construction materials reached $1.8 billion in BC 2023
- BC construction GDP per capita was $34,200 in 2022
- Foreign investment in BC construction projects totaled $5.4 billion in 2022
- Construction R&D spending in BC was $450 million in 2022, 2.4% of sector revenue
- BC construction value added grew 6.1% in Q1 2024
- Highway and street construction spending in BC was $2.9 billion in 2023
Economic Contribution Interpretation
While BC’s construction industry is busy putting up walls, it's also single-handedly propping up the provincial economy, proving that sometimes the most solid investments are the ones made with actual concrete.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, British Columbia's construction industry employed 233,000 workers, representing 9.2% of total provincial employment
- The average hourly wage for construction workers in BC was $32.45 in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- Women accounted for 13.4% of the BC construction workforce in 2022, an increase from 11.8% in 2019
- Indigenous workers made up 5.2% of BC's construction employment in 2021, higher than the provincial average of 4.1%
- There were 12,500 construction apprentices registered in BC in 2023, comprising 28% of the total trades workforce
- Youth aged 15-24 represented 14.7% of BC construction jobs in 2022
- Self-employment in BC construction stood at 22.3% of total workers in 2021
- Construction manager positions in BC grew by 3.8% year-over-year in 2023, reaching 15,200 jobs
- Immigrants filled 28% of new construction jobs in BC from 2016-2021
- Labour shortages affected 65% of BC construction firms in 2023 survey
- BC construction vacancy rate was 4.2% in Q4 2023, above national average of 3.1%
- 7,800 new construction jobs added in BC in 2023, primarily in residential sector
- Average workweek for BC construction workers was 39.2 hours in 2022
- Unionized workers comprised 32% of BC construction workforce in 2021
- Skilled trades shortages projected to reach 18,000 workers in BC by 2032
- Female apprentices in BC construction increased 15% from 2020 to 2023, totaling 1,850
- Construction employment in Metro Vancouver was 152,000 in 2022, 65% of provincial total
- Older workers (55+) made up 24.5% of BC construction in 2023
- Entry-level labourers earned $25.67/hour average in BC 2023
- 42% of BC construction firms reported hiring challenges due to skills gaps in 2023
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While BC's construction industry demonstrates robust wages, growing diversity, and a healthy pipeline of apprentices, it also stares down a stubborn paradox: a sector building the province's future is simultaneously bracing against a critical shortage of the very hands needed to assemble it.
Market Trends and Forecasts
- Residential construction starts in BC expected to decline 20% to 35,000 units in 2024
- Non-residential construction growth forecast at 3.5% annually to 2028 in BC
- Labour demand in BC construction projected to grow 12% to 260,000 jobs by 2033
- Prefabricated construction adoption expected to rise 25% in BC by 2025
- Green building certifications in BC construction: projected 40% increase to 2027
- Digital twin technology use in BC mega-projects: 60% adoption by 2025 forecast
- BC construction productivity growth forecast: 1.8% annually through 2030
- Modular housing market in BC to reach $5 billion by 2028
- Electrification retrofits demand: 15,000 projects/year in BC buildings by 2030
- BIM (Building Information Modeling) usage: 75% of BC firms by 2025
- Infrastructure spending forecast: $100 billion over 10 years in BC to 2033
- Affordable housing shortage: 200,000 units needed by 2030 in BC
- Net-zero construction mandates: 100% new builds by 2032 target in BC
- Construction tech startups in BC: 45 active, venture funding $300M in 2023
- Supply chain delays impact: 18-month backlog reduction expected by 2025 in BC
- Indigenous procurement in BC construction: target 5% of $40B projects by 2025
- Mass timber construction projects: 50 planned in BC to 2027
- Climate-resilient infrastructure investment: $10B forecast 2024-2030 in BC
- Automation/robotics in BC construction: 20% productivity boost by 2030 projection
Market Trends and Forecasts Interpretation
While residential building may be taking a tactical pause, the industry itself is charging full steam ahead into a future defined by technology, sustainability, and major infrastructure, all while desperately trying to train enough people to build it.
Safety and Incidents
- Fatalities in BC construction: 28 in 2022, rate of 12.0 per 100,000 workers
- Lost-time injury claims in BC construction: 8,450 in 2022, frequency rate 2.1 per 100 workers
- Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 42% of BC construction claims in 2023
- Fall from heights incidents: 1,250 reported in BC construction 2022
- WorkSafeBC assessments on construction firms: 95% compliance rate in 2023 audits
- Heat-related incidents rose 25% in BC construction during 2023 summer, totaling 320 cases
- Struck by object injuries: 1,800 claims in BC construction 2022
- Safety training completions: 145,000 COR certified workers in BC construction 2023
- Crane-related incidents: 45 in BC 2022, including 2 fatalities
- Silica exposure violations: 210 citations issued to BC construction sites in 2023
- Mental health claims in construction: 12% increase to 950 in BC 2022
- Trench collapse incidents: 18 reported in BC construction 2023
- PPE non-compliance fines: $2.4 million levied on BC construction firms 2023
- Electrical incidents: 420 shocks/burns in BC construction 2022
- Safety incident reduction: 15% YoY in BC construction lost-time injuries 2023
- Overhead power line contacts: 65 incidents in BC construction 2023
- Asbestos abatement violations: 85 on BC sites 2023
- Vehicle incidents on sites: 950 claims in BC construction 2022
- BC construction TFIs (total fatality incidents) rate: 4.2 per 100,000 in 2023
Safety and Incidents Interpretation
Behind every one of these grim statistics is a preventable story, where the industry’s impressive safety training and compliance are still tragically losing the daily battle against gravity, distraction, and a disregard for the human body's limits.
Sources & References
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- Reference 12CMHC-SCHLcmhc-schl.gc.caVisit source
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