WorkBC has released the 2017 edition of British Columbia’s Labour Market Outlook. The report provides up-to-date information on the types of jobs and skills that will be in demand in B.C. between now and 2027. Below are some of the highlights and trends impacting the construction industry. An emerging theme from the Outlook is that success increasingly requires adaptability and the ability to transfer skills and competencies; construction is about careers, not jobs.

General

• 917,000 job openings between now and 2027
• 70% due to workers leaving the workforce (mostly due to retirements)
• 48% of the openings will be filled by first-time entrants
• Unemployment rate is expected to fall to 4.9% by 2027

Construction Industry

• Construction is # 7 overall in job openings by industry group
• Construction is # 2 in replacement jobs – 57,100 (97%)
• Negligible amount of job expansion at only 2,000

Construction Occupations

• Trades and Equipment Operators are one of the top five groups for job openings:
• 94,800 replacement jobs and 21,300 expansion jobs
• 3,500 Construction Senior Managers make the list of High Demand Occupation openings requiring a degree and significant work experience. This occupation has the second-highest wage overall at $80.13/hour.
• Contractors, supervisors, and Heavy Equipment Operators make the list of high demand occupations requiring certificate or apprenticeship training

Construction Changes to the High Demand Occupations List

• Plumber is one of 7 occupations removed from the High Demand List
• 0 construction jobs are added to the High Demand List
• Contractors and Supervisors, and heavy equipment operator crews are “moving to balance” (slower growth and greater supply): one of 8 occupations that will stay on the list but are likely to be removed
• 27 Occupations important to ICI projects (page 44) are now balanced and there is no longer a need to encourage expansion of training capacity