Construction Worker Salary Sees Highest Growth Rate in 40 Years
A 2016 study found that construction workers were the happiest employees in Canada. It’s really no surprise – the industry is well known for teamwork, collaboration, strong work ethics, and building strong relationships with your workmates. Fast forward to a few years later, after the pandemic resulted in job losses across nearly all industries, the construction industry was among the fastest to recover. In fact, according to the Construction Labour Relations Association of BC the value of new building permits hit a peak of over $11 billion in the second quarter of 2021 – at a time when most industries were still struggling to find their feet.
A Few Facts About The Canadian Construction Industry
The construction industry in Canada is one of the largest industrial sectors, employing around 1.47 million Canadians in 2021. BuildForce Canada has an extensive report about projected growth of the Canadian construction industry. A few highlights include:
- Total year-over-year construction investment was a whopping 10% higher in 2021 than levels recorded in 2019.
- The rise in construction-sector activity in 2021 increased employment in the sector by 7% in 2021 when compared to the year before.
- The overall construction industry will need to recruit 171,850 workers by 2027.
To cut a long story short, it’s a really exciting time to enter the construction industry in the country.
The Ever-Increasing Construction Worker Salary
The large number of job openings means that wages are on the rise. Workwear Guru ranks Canada among the top five countries in the world for construction workers based on income, safety, and cost of living. Canadian construction workers earn the third-highest average salary in the world.
This is only improving! Hourly wages are on the rise – with average construction worker hourly wage seeing the sharpest increase since 1982 with wages going up by 6.3% from May 2021 to May 2022. That’s the steepest increase the industry has seen in 40 years. And salaries are expected to rise even further. Salary Expert estimates wages to rise by 10% by 2027.
Wages in the industry also tend to increase as you gain experience or learn new skills. Some of the highest paid construction jobs in the country include:
- Heavy Equipment Operators
- Pipelayers
- Photovoltaic Cell Installers
North Construction is a Vancouver construction company that specializes in construction projects located in challenging environments. Sustainability and a deep respect for the environment is at the top of our priorities with every project. We’re always on the lookout for likeminded individuals who embrace challenges and continually strive to expand their skillset.
Working with North Construction means joining one of the fastest growing and most innovative heavy construction contractors in Canada. To work with the latest and most advanced construction equipment and technology, for a company that cares – join our team!