Shortage of construction workers critical in B.C., employers say

August 11, 2022

A critical labour shortage in B.C.’s construction industry is expected to hit 90 per cent of companies in several trades and 75 per cent of companies across the province are reporting they can’t find enough qualified workers.

That’s up from 60 per cent of companies who complained a year ago of a shortage of qualified workers, a survey the CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association released on Wednesday found.

The shortages are critical, with 100 per cent of glazier companies reported staff shortages in the survey, CEO Chris Gardner told a breakfast meeting to kick off the Buildex trades expo. More than half of the association’s members are expecting more work this year and that will likely mean an even tighter labour market.

Chris Boshard, owner of Combined Painting, a $5-million commercial painting company that’s based in Vancouver and has 30 to 40 employees, fears because he can’t find qualified painters he will have to turn down jobs, as he has had to in past.

Source: Vancouver Sun