BC Construction Industry Calls for Government Action to Sustain Workforce and Project Momentum
April 20, 2026
The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) has officially released its 2026 BC Construction Industry Survey and 2026 Spring Stat Pack. Drawing on trending industry data and perspectives shared by 858 employers and tradespeople across all seven of BC’s development regions, the results paint a picture of a strong and resilient sector that requires targeted government action to ensure the province can deliver its infrastructure commitments.
Construction continues to be the #1 employer in BC’s goods sector, with 264,600 British Columbians relying on the industry for a paycheque (up 5% YOY), 199,900 of which are skilled tradespeople, together contributing $28.5B or 9.2% of BC’s annual GDP. But still, business owners report several frustrations, including disputes, non-payment, economic uncertainty, and high overhead costs. According to the survey, 89% reported being paid late for work at least one time this past year, while 61% report being paid late for work completed over 25% of the time.
“Across British Columbia, our industry is consistently being asked to do more with less,” said Chris Atchison, President of BCCA. “The industry has shown incredible resilience, especially in light of ongoing economic, global, and supply chain instability and uncertainty, but resilience cannot be mistaken for invincibility.”
BCCA is calling on the provincial government, including its agencies, to take concrete steps that will make it easier to build in BC. That means committing to a multi-year capital plan that gives industry the long-term visibility it needs to function; modernizing and committing to fair, open, and transparent public procurement; developing a clear federal-provincial strategy to align on large-scale infrastructure; and prioritizing the enactment of the Construction Prompt Payment Act. BCCA remains committed to advocating for and championing the priorities of BC’s construction industry.
The conditions for the construction industry are under increasing pressure while systemic barriers continue to persist. Structural issues such as ineffective procurement, client disputes, and payment delays reflect a business environment that lacks the certainty and fairness the sector needs to thrive. In fact, when asked how much of a risk premium contractors will build into a bid, the average response was 14.5%, with 43% reporting the number one reason they do NOT bid on a public project to be onerous contract clauses. Measures like the addition of PST to architectural, engineering, and related professional services introduced in Budget 2026 add additional cost pressures that impact project viability and competitiveness locally, nationally, and internationally. Until the provincial government addresses these challenges, BC risks higher costs while falling critically short on its infrastructure commitments.
“British Columbia depends on builders,” emphasized Atchison. “But high costs, risks, and uncertainty have created an environment that makes it harder for our sector to deliver at the level this province requires. With $173 billion in proposed construction projects on the books, our province can’t afford to move forward without adequate support for industry.”
To view the 2026 BCCA BC Construction Industry Survey report, visit: bccassn.com/2026IndustrySurvey
To view the Spring 2026 BCCA Stat Pack, visit: bccassn.com/2026SpringStatPack
Details regarding data sources can be found at: bccassn.com/2026SpringStatPackSources
KEY BC CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STATISTICS
- Construction is the No. 1 employer in BC’s goods sector – unchanged
- BC’s construction industry accounts for 9.2% of the province’s total GDP, totaling $28.5 billion – unchanged
- 264,600 people rely directly on BC’s construction industry for a paycheque – down 1% since fall 2025 Stat Pack; up 5% since spring 2025 Stat Pack
- Number of workers in trades jobs: 199,900 – up 5% YOY
- The number of women in construction trades is 12,394 (6.2%) – Up from 5.3% in April 2025.
- Number of construction companies in BC: 28,173 – unchanged
- The average yearly wage of BC construction employees is $85,488 – up 5% YOY
- Current job vacancies in BC construction: 8,240 – up 13% since fall 2025 Stat Pack, but down 29% since spring 2025 Stat Pack
- The estimated value of proposed major construction projects in BC: $173B – unchanged
- The estimated value of current major construction projects underway in BC: $145B – down 8% YOY
- Value of industrial, commercial, institutional building permits: $801M – up 15% since fall 2025 Stat Pack, up 32% since spring 2025 Stat Pack
- Multi-unit residential permits (measured as the # of apartment units, on a 6-month rolling average): 2,910 – down 24% since fall 2025 Stat Pack, but up 2% since spring 2025 Stat Pack
- Multi-unit residential construction starts (includes apartment and other unit types, on a 6-month rolling average): 34,556 – down 15% since fall 2025 Stat Pack, but only down 2% since spring 2025 Stat Pack
- BC’s rank in labour productivity across Canada is #5 – unchanged
- Share of multi-unit residential construction investment across Canada is 19% and ranked #3 – unchanged
- Estimated building investment in BC for Q3/Q4 2025 was $9.4B, ranked #3 across Canada – rank up from #4 in fall 2025 Stat Pack
- Cost of construction in BC has increased by 2.5% since last year, ranked 8th highest across Canada – rank down from #4 in fall 2025 Stat Pack
- Number of tower cranes currently erected across BC is 380 – up 9%
