{"id":33363,"date":"2025-11-24T23:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T07:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bcca-report-shows-steady-activity-amidst-rising-costs\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T23:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T07:43:09","slug":"bcca-report-shows-steady-activity-amidst-rising-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bcca-report-shows-steady-activity-amidst-rising-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"BCCA Report Shows Steady Activity Amidst Rising Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The BC Construction Association has released its fall 2025 Stat Pack<\/a>, a semi-annual report that examines leading economic and labour conditions across British Columbia\u2019s construction sector. The latest data shows construction material costs have increased by four percent year-over-year, which is double the Bank of Canada\u2019s inflation target. These sustained cost increases are raising the overall cost of building at a time when trade uncertainty and other pressures continue to contribute to BC\u2019s affordability challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Even as costs rise, sector activity remains steady. Industrial, commercial, and institutional permit values are up nine percent year over year, and the number of multi-unit residential permits issued is up 10 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile overall inflation in BC and Canada has cooled, we continue to see construction material costs rise at a higher rate in B.C.\u2019s construction sector,\u201d said Chris Atchison, president of BCCA. \u201cThese pressures are driving construction costs higher at a time when trade uncertainty is already causing many to rethink their investments, creating a secondary impact across the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

B.C.\u2019s construction sector remains a key driver of the provincial economy, contributing 9.2 percent of GDP and employing over 267,000 people, demonstrating its strength and resilience. BCCA continues to support initiatives that encourage growth and investment across the sector.<\/p>\n

The release of the Stat Pack comes as the provincial government has introduced Prompt Payment legislation<\/a>. The legislation is designed to ensure workers and businesses are paid on time for completed work, bringing British Columbia in line with other provinces across Canada. BCCA has been a leading advocate on this issue and continues to champion the Bill\u2019s passage.<\/div>\n

\u201cThere are many external pressures on our industry that we cannot control, but advocating for prompt payment and fairness across our industry is something we can,\u201d added Atchison. \u201cWe look forward to working with the government to advance this legislation and provide contractors with relief from the ongoing pressures created by trade and payment uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n

KEY BC CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STATISTICS<\/b><\/p>\n

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    Construction is the No. 1 employer in B.C.\u2019s goods sector;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    B.C.\u2019s construction industry accounts for 9.2 percent of the province\u2019s total GDP, totalling $28.5 billion;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    267,400 people rely directly on B.C.\u2019s construction industry for a paycheque, an increase of 10 percent since last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Number of workers in trades jobs: 191,200, up 14 percent since last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The number of women in construction trades is 10,134 (5.3 perent), an increase of approximately 600 women over the past year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Number of construction companies in B.C.: 28,225, an increase of over 160 companies over the past year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The average yearly wage of B.C. construction employees is $83,667, an increase of 16 percent over the past year and 41 percent over the past five years;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Current job vacancies in B.C. construction: 7,310, a decrease of 37 percent over the last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The estimated value of proposed major construction projects in B.C.: $174 billion, an increase of five percent since last year, and a decrease of 21 percent over the past five years;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The estimated value of current major construction projects underway in B.C.: $158 billion, a decrease of seven percent since last year, and an increase of 41 percent over the past five years;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Value of industrial, commercial, institutional building permits: $696 million (six-month rolling average), is up nine percent compared to last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Multi-unit residential permits (measured as the number of apartment units, on a six-month rolling average): 3,851, up 10 percent compared to last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Multi-unit residential construction starts (includes apartment and other unit types, on a six-month rolling average): 40,822, an increase of 11 percent over the last year;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    B.C.\u2019s rank in labour productivity across Canada is fifth;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Share of multi-unit residential construction investment across Canada is 19 percent and ranked third;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Estimated building investment in BC for Q2, 2025, was $9.7 billion, ranked fourth across Canada;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Cost of construction in B.C. has increased by four percent since last year, ranked fourth highest across Canada;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Number of tower cranes currently erected across BC is 350.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n