B.C’s construction industry has built the province, literally. From homes to commercial offices to community centres, construction and development companies, big and small, are responsible for building our province’s infrastructure as well as strengthening our economy. Every year, the British Columbia Construction Association dishes out statistics on its industry, and there are some pretty crazy numbers in their latest stat pack.
Quick Stats on the Industry
Given that the industry contributes to 8.7% of BC’s GDP, these numbers shouldn’t be surprising, but it’s helpful to remember just how valuable construction companies in Vancouver and across the province are to the economics of the province.
- Over 25,000 construction companies
- $261 billion of proposed construction projects
- $114 billion: value of current construction projects in B.C
- 8.7% of BC’s GDP comes from construction
Biggest Companies Getting Bigger in 2018
These numbers show no sign of falling in the near future. B.C’s top construction companies have been experiencing massive growth in recent years. On average, the top 20 construction companies grew 13.4% to $212.5 million in 2018 from $187.3 million in 2017, according to a report by Business in Vancouver.
The top 5 companies according to BIV in 2018 were:
Construction Company |
Notable Projects |
Wales McLelland Construction | UBC Integrated Research Library, IKEA Coquitlam) |
Metro-Can Construction | False Creek Community Centre, various high-rise residential buildings in the Lower Mainland |
Ledcor Group of Companies | BCIT Richmond Aerospace Technology Campus, Art Gallery of Alberta) |
PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc | BC Place Revitalization, Alex Fraser Bridge |
Axiom Builders Inc | Translink Head Office, Dalina |
The company with the largest five-year growth as of 2018 was Wales McLelland Construction, increasing its total B.C. billing by 136 per cent to $185 million in 2018 from $78.4 million in 2014. Axiom Builders was a runner-up with a 124 per cent growth in five years.
As of 2019, the top 5 construction companies in B.C according to Business in Vancouver are:
Construction Company |
Notable Recently Completed Projects |
Total B.C Billings (2018/2017) |
Kiewit Canada Group | Not provided | $781,167 $399,660 |
Ledcor Group of Companies | Teck Acute Care Centre at BC’s Children Hospital, UBC Central Site B | $700,000 $600,000 |
Axiom Builders Inc | RiverSky condo towers, Encore condo tower | $510,000 $295,000 |
PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc | The Exchange office tower, Whitehorse General Hospital expansion | $354,342 $278,250 |
EllisDon Corp | Parq Vancouver, Emily Carr University of Art and Design | $337,000 $370,000 |
Almost all the companies above saw higher revenues in 2018 compared to 2017.
More Workers Needed
As the biggest construction companies get even bigger in the coming years, the need for skilled labour is more urgent than ever.
The BCCA predicts that there will be 7,900 unfilled construction jobs in BC due to labour shortages by 2028.
With several, upcoming major projects including the Site C Dam, LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink pipeline, Business in Vancouver predicts that 10,000 to 11,000 workers will be needed in B.C over the next two years to see these developments to completion.
With more new developments in the works and steadily growing construction companies, the B.C skilled labour workforce will need to see significant growth in order to meet the demand.
Surprising Facts about BC’s Construction Industry
B.C's construction industry has built the province, literally. From homes to commercial offices to community centres, construction and development companies, big and small, are responsible for building our province's infrastructure as well as strengthening our economy. Every year, the British Columbia Construction Association dishes out statistics on its industry, and there are some pretty crazy numbers in their latest stat
Tourism in BC: A Record Breaking 2019
It’s the biggest year yet for travel and tourism in BC. The CBC is reporting that Destination BC is forecasting 23 million visitors to the province this year, a record-setting number for the province. According to Destination BC’s report, 20.8 million people toured about British Columbia in 2018. This is great news for travel and tourism businesses in Vancouver. Check out
Top 10 Biggest Businesses Owned by Women in B.C.
Female-owned businesses in Vancouver are booming. Our city ranks 11th on the Dell Global Women Entrepreneur Cities (WE Cities) Index, the second highest Canadian city after Toronto. This index ranks cities based on "the impact of local policies, programs and characteristics in addition to national laws and customs to help improve support for women entrepreneurs and the overall economy." Business
Top 6 Co-working Spaces in Vancouver
Co-working spaces in Vancouver are on the rise. With a growing population of freelancers and remote workers, the demand for high quality workspaces is real in the Lower Mainland. Beyond freelancers, companies of all sizes utilize co-working spaces, from small businesses settling into their first headquarters to large corporations looking for a temporary office in a new city. As Vancouver
Apple to Move into New Vancouver Office on Georgia Street
California tech giant Apple Inc. will be moving into a new Vancouver office space at 400 West Georgia, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Bloomberg article states that the company will occupy 2 floors of office space in the new tower, citing unnamed sources. Some other notable tenants of 400 West Georgia include Deloitte Canada and IWG Plc’s Spaces co-working units.
2019 BC Healthcare Awards Winners Announced
Every year, the Health Employers Association of BC hosts the BC Healthcare Awards to honour excellence and innovation in the provincial healthcare industry. The awards recognize innovative health models, workplace health initiatives, collaborative problem-solving and outstanding individual achievements. The BC Healthcare Awards was hosted on June 24, 2019 at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. Here is the full list of recipients: Dianna Mah-Jones Award of
The 2019 Technology Impact Awards Winners
The Technology Impact Awards are an annual awards program hosted by the BC Tech Association that celebrates the achievements of BC’s tech industry. The awards recognizes the individuals, groups and companies that are transforming the tech and innovation industry in our province, and beyond. The 2019 Technology Impact Awards were held on June 27, 2019 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Congratulations
A Comprehensive List of Resources for B.C Small Businesses
So you want to start a business. Or maybe you already have one, but you just need that boost—some extra funding, or advice on how to pivot your business strategy. Starting and running a business comes with a host of questions, many that we might not even be aware of (or want to think about). Is my idea viable? How
The 2019 BC Wedding Awards Winners Announced
The BC Wedding Awards recognizes the best of the BC wedding industry from planners to photographers and everything in between. The winners of each category are the companies with the highest scoring entries. The 2019 BC Weddings Awards took place at The Hard Rock Molson Canadian Casino Theatre in Coquitlam on April 24th, 2019. Congratulations everyone! Here is the full list of
The 2019 LifeSciences BC Awards Winners
The LifeSciences BC Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes the achievements of individuals and organizations in British Columbia's life science ecosystem. From which academia to health institutions to government, the award winners represent the full spectrum from discovery to commercialization, underscoring the depth of knowledge that significantly contributes to the B.C. bioeconomy, while improving the lives of patients
2019 Awards for Engineering Excellence Winners
Every year, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC) hosts the Awards for Engineering Excellence to celebrate the technical excellence of its member firms. The association gives out Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit to projects in the following categories: Buildings, Municipal & Civil Infrastructure, Transportation & Bridges, Energy & Industry, Natural Resource & Habitat, Soft Engineering,