Workforce shortages among reasons for concern in B.C.’s construction industry: BCCA

The BC Construction Association is urging the new provincial government to increase investments in major infrastructure projects to combat major concerns to the construction industry.

Workforce shortages, high labour costs, and lack of payment certainty are reportedly top of mind for the association and its members.

The association’s president Chris Atchison told 1130 NewsRadio that the value of proposed infrastructure projects has gone down by 20 per cent in the last five years. He says the decreased value raises questions regarding the future of the building, with major projects winding down and no guarantee of them being eventually replaced.

Atchison says BC’s population has seen massive growth and needs more infrastructure, such as housing, hospitals, schools, and bridges. He thinks the province should be using the skilled workforce it already has to get those projects done.

“All of this new housing, all of the corresponding infrastructure that we need to support and build, is going to require a skilled workforce. And largely that workforce is here, and ready to do the work,” he said.

“In order to continue to build British Columbia, we need to make sure we have places for those individuals, as we continue into invest into the province, that we don’t want to have them leave.”

Atchison wants the province to bring in legislation to combat payment uncertainty as well. He says right now, there’s no guarantee that industry workers will be paid in a timely fashion.

“People can expect to be paid upon invoice after 30 days, that happens in real life for all of us. When we get a cable bill or an energy bill, we’re expected to pay that,” he said.

In a statement released by the association Wednesday, Atchison also said the construction industry will be paramount in alleviating the housing crisis in the province.

According to the association, construction is the number one employer in B.C.’s goods sector; It accounts for 10 per cent of the province’s GDP — a 16 per cent increase over the past five years; And 243,000 people in B.C. rely directly on the industry for a paycheque.

The association says 6,600 construction jobs in B.C. will be unfilled due to labour shortages by 2032 — an increase of 600 compared to forecasts made this time last year.