BC UNEMPLOYMENT: CONSTRUCTION

Overall Hiring Conditions

Hiring across BC is expected to remain muted in the near term. Companies are avoiding net-new headcount growth and focusing primarily on replacement hiring. Most demand sits with intermediate and senior-level roles, while early-career job seekers continue to face the steepest challenges due to a lack of organizational expansion.

“There’s going to be hiring—but mostly for skilled, experienced people. Entry-level candidates are going to have a tougher time.” — Henry Goldbeck

BC’s structural makeup offers some protection, however. Because the province is dominated by leaner, smaller organizations and branch offices, businesses already operate with minimal excess labour. Once workloads rise, many won’t be able to absorb the pressure, meaning hiring could rebound faster than in provinces with larger corporate head offices.

Economic Drivers to Watch

BC’s diversified economy remains one of its greatest strengths. A slowdown in residential construction is weighing on job creation, but activity in sectors such as biotech, IT, natural resources, and transportation logistics continues to provide stability.

A major variable is the rollout of large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in regions such as Prince Rupert and Kitimat. These multi-year “nation-building” investments have the potential to stimulate employment across supply chains—Vancouver, Prince George, and other service hubs.

“A few billion-dollar projects in a province our size can make a real difference.” — Henry Goldbeck

However, their province-wide impact will depend on worker mobility, population movement, and how much of the procurement pipeline flows through BC rather than out-of-province suppliers.

Housing Supply & Regulatory Constraints

The housing shortage remains an anchor on both economic and labour-market performance. Henry points to multiple inefficiencies that slow construction and inflate costs: lengthy permitting timelines, zoning bottlenecks, and regulatory frameworks that limit competition—such as certification processes that prevent European equipment manufacturers (e.g., elevator systems) from entering the Canadian market.

These issues increase the cost of building, slow project starts, and reduce the workforce mobility needed to support a growing economy. While governments have acknowledged the problem, meaningful acceleration has yet to materialize.

AI’s Real Impact on Hiring

Despite the noise surrounding generative AI, its direct influence on hiring remains minimal so far. Employers are not yet recruiting specifically for AI skills, and candidates are not reporting AI-related layoffs.

Instead, AI is shifting tasks, not positions—automating low-level or repetitive work that traditionally served as training ground for young workers entering the labour force. Over time, organizations will need intentional strategies to preserve entry pathways into their industries.

Outlook for the Coming Months

The near-term outlook remains cool but stable. BC benefits from:

• A diversified industry base
• Lean organizations that will feel pressure to hire once demand rises
• Potential stimulus from upcoming infrastructure builds

But hiring growth will remain constrained until housing supply, construction pace, and regulatory pressures start to ease. These factors will shape how quickly BC transitions from slowdown to recovery in 2025.