A survey by the Independent Contractors and Business Association says construction workers in BC are facing a good news/bad news situation, with the bad news outweighing the good.
Chris Gardner, President of the ICBA says the good news is workers will be getting a 10% pay raise over the next two years, and that the construction industry has been the busiest it's been in decades.
But he says there are many issues that make up the bad news, including the increase in costs for materials.
"The federal government has introduced duties and tariffs on imported steel and aluminium. So all of the windows that you see going into a high rise building, the quality aluminium frames around those windows, they're now more expensive because of the duties and tariffs. All the rebar that goes in those projects, more expensive because of duties and tariffs."
Gardner says there's a lot of red tape they are being forced to work around, and city halls are slow to grant building permits.
"It can be everything form a new townhome complex, a new high rise, a new seniors complex, a bridge, a new road, a dam, a pipeline. All of that takes so long, that we can't get supply on the market fast enough, to help cool the housing market."
He says while these factors are weighing on the industry, the biggest issue they find is that there isn't enough workers to do the work that's ahead of them.
Gardner says we are about to face a "democratic cliff", and while many industries will be affected by a loss of the work force, the construction industry is going to be the hardest hit. He says he would like to see more young people become involved in trades, as there are many unique opportunities that come from working in construction.
"One of the interesting things about construction, is that there is a significant opportunity for young people to learn a skill or a trade, and work in construction for 5 to 10 years, and then start up their own business. They can own an electrical sub-contracting company, or plumbing, or drywall, whatever it is, and that's often an untold story that should get more attention. It's not just about, you know, when it's raining, or there's snow on the ground, you see construction workers working outside and think 'Wow, that's what life in construction is like.' But there are so many exciting opportunities that come from construction, from learning those trades and skills, that give you opportunities to be an entrepreneur and create a new business."
Gardner says they need more workers across the province, especially on the Island, where the survey shows that in 2019, contractors will be facing a 29% increase in work compared to last year, while they are short in the amount carpenters, labourers and plumbers by 82%.
Garner says young people need to help keep the economy on track by filling the jobs left behind by retirees.