June 2025 Labour Pulse: BC & Canadian Skilled Trades Market Brief
BC & Canada Labour Market Snapshot (June 2025)
The labour market remained resilient through June, with British Columbia leading in job growth and wages. B.C. added 13,000 jobs in May (latest data) while unemployment edged up to 6.4% as more people entered the labour force (jobbank.gc.ca). This jobless rate sits below Canada’s 7.0% average (news.gov.bc.ca). Wages in B.C. continue to be the highest in Canada – an average hourly wage of $38.07, up 2.9% from a year ago (news.gov.bc.ca). Key provincial indicators include:
Employment Growth: +13,000 jobs in B.C. in May (month-over-month), and +34,900 year-over-year (jobbank.gc.ca), with 67,000 full-time jobs added so far in 2025 (news.gov.bc.ca).
Unemployment Rate: 6.4% in B.C. (May), holding below the national rate and near historic norms. The slight rise from April reflects more people job-hunting (jobbank.gc.ca).
Wages: B.C.’s average wage hit $38.07/hr, the highest in Canada (news.gov.bc.ca). Wage growth (+2.9% YoY) remains moderate, but still among the top increases nationally (news.gov.bc.ca).
Notably, women’s employment has surged in B.C. – up 11,000 in May alone (news.gov.bc.ca) – contributing to the province leading Canada in full-time job gains for women this year. Youth employment is also up by 1,400 jobs (news.gov.bc.ca). For employers, this expanding labour force means a broader talent pool is available, even as competition for skilled workers persists. B.C.’s job market is still robust, but hiring conditions are a touch less tight than last year, as explained below.
Construction & Skilled Trades Employment Trends
Construction is a standout sector, seeing significant job growth over the past year. In B.C., construction employment jumped 9.8% from May 2024 to May 2025 – an increase of 23,800 jobs in one year (jobbank.gc.ca). This aligns with Canada-wide trends: construction employment has been normalizing after the post-pandemic boom. The industry’s unemployment rate was 6.5% in May, up from 5.7% a year ago but essentially back to pre-pandemic levels (around 6.5–6.8%) (link2build.ca). In other words, the construction labour market has more slack now than it did during the height of the shortages, which is bringing some balance:
Labour Supply vs Demand: Over the 12 months to May, Canada’s construction labour force grew +3.5% while employment grew +2.6% (link2build.ca). More workers are coming into construction than there are new jobs, easing pressure on hiring. Indeed, unemployment among construction workers has averaged over 8% in 2025, higher than the overall labour market (centreforfuturework.ca). Job vacancy rates in construction have fallen from over 7% in 2022 to about 3% now (centreforfuturework.ca). In the current climate, a “shortage of jobs” is actually a bigger issue than a shortage of workers (centreforfuturework.ca). For our clients, this means hiring skilled tradespeople may be a bit easier than it was a year ago, as more qualified workers are on the market.
Regional Strength: B.C. is bucking some national trends with strong construction employment growth (+10.3% YoY, second only to Alberta)(link2build.ca). Vancouver Island’s construction scene remains busy – the Island’s unemployment rate is 5.4%, the lowest in B.C.(jobbank.gc.ca) – indicating steady demand for trades in our region. However, other areas (e.g. Northern BC) have seen job dips (jobbank.gc.ca), reminding us that activity can vary by project and location.
Housing & Infrastructure Outlook: Leading indicators present a mixed picture. Nationwide building permit volumes were ~12% lower than last year as of April (link2build.ca), reflecting a cooldown in new projects (particularly single-family homes and commercial builds). Higher interest rates have tempered some private construction. Yet, housing starts were up 19% over the year (link2build.ca) – especially in multi-family units – as governments and developers push to address housing shortages. B.C.’s housing market is softening with inventory at decade-highs (jobbank.gc.ca), which could further moderate new residential construction in the near term. The bottom line: the skilled trades labour market is less overheated than it was, but long-run demand remains on the horizon (notably for housing and infrastructure needs).
Policy Moves and Projects Shaping the Market
June brought several noteworthy developments on the policy and project front – all aimed at bolstering the construction sector or impacting labour conditions:
Fast-Tracking of Major Projects (B.C.): In response to economic pressures (like U.S. trade uncertainty), the B.C. government is moving to speed up permitting and approvals for priority projects. New legislation introduced in May will streamline provincial infrastructure builds – schools, hospitals, roads – cutting red tape to “get shovels in the ground” faster news.gov.bc.canews.gov.bc.ca. As part of this push, the Province also announced an initial list of 18 resource projects (critical minerals, clean energy, etc.) worth ~$20 billion that will be fast-tracked globalnews.ca. These projects – ranging from mines to wind farms – could create about 8,000 jobs across B.C. once they proceed globalnews.ca. For the construction industry, this is good news: a pipeline of major projects means more work on the horizon, and potentially a more stable investment climate. We’ll be watching how quickly these “priority” projects actually break ground, but the intent is clear: build more, build faster (while still upholding safety and Indigenous consultation standards).
Ease of Doing Business Review (B.C.): Alongside fast-tracking projects, B.C. has launched an ease-of-doing-business initiative to modernize regulations and permitting systems news.gov.bc.ca. Businesses (including construction firms) are being invited to share ideas on cutting unnecessary red tape. This could eventually simplify development approvals and reduce delays on job sites – another win for builders and trades employers if it results in quicker turnaround on permits and inspections.
Major Projects Go National (Canada): Federally, there’s momentum to accelerate big projects and improve labour mobility. Bill C-5, the proposed Free Trade and Labour Mobility Act / Building Canada Act, is making its way through Ottawa buildingtrades.ca. This legislation would deem certain nationally significant infrastructure projects “in the national interest” and streamline their federal approvals. Essentially, it aims to shift reviews from “whether” to build to “how” to get it built faster canada.ca. For example, instead of multiple sequential permits, one coordinated process would issue a single set of conditions covering all federal requirements canada.ca. The goal is to cut project approval times from ~5 years to 2 years canada.ca. Canada’s Building Trades Unions are strongly urging all parties to pass Bill C-5, noting it will make it “more efficient to build major projects…needed to secure Canada’s economic future ”buildingtrades.ca. Another component of this push is improving labour mobility: the federal plan would recognize provincial trade certifications and licenses, allowing skilled workers to more easily work on projects under federal jurisdiction without duplicate licensing canada.ca. For tradespeople, this means your Red Seal or BC-certified carpenter could take on a job anywhere in the country (or on federal projects) with less hassle. Big picture, Bill C-5’s measures could unlock more large-scale construction work (think highways, ports, pipelines, clean energy) and help deploy skilled trades where they’re needed most.
Stable Labour Relations: Replacement Worker Ban: A historic change in Canadian labour law took effect June 20 – the federal ban on replacement workers during strikes or lockouts in federally-regulated industries canada.cacanada.ca. While this mostly impacts sectors like transportation, telecommunications, etc., it reflects a broader pro-worker shift. Unions celebrated the ban as leveling the playing field in collective bargaining canada.ca. For construction firms that work on federal contracts or have unionized crews, this underscores the importance of good-faith labour relations. The hope is that more stable labour relations will prevent disruptive disputes and encourage fair bargaining. (On a related note, many construction trades in B.C. recently negotiated new collective agreements with solid wage increases, a sign of the times as skilled labour remains valuable.)
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Moves Forward: One significant project update: the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced procurement is beginning for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion in Delta jobbank.gc.ca. Construction isn’t slated to start until 2027, but it’s notable because this $3.5 billion port project is expected to create 18,000 jobs during construction jobbank.gc.ca. Once complete, it will bolster Canada’s trade capacity and support thousands of ongoing jobs. For our clients, such mega-projects can have ripple effects – potentially drawing trades talent and resources when they ramp up. Many other infrastructure upgrades on Vancouver Island and around B.C. are underway or starting this summer (from highway improvements to new hospitals and housing developments), keeping demand for construction services steady.
In short, governments are leaning in to spur construction activity – cutting red tape, investing in projects, and addressing labour constraints. This proactive stance should translate into more opportunities in the skilled trades, and a smoother process from blueprint to build. We’re optimistic that these measures will help our industry navigate economic uncertainties (like interest rates and trade headwinds) and keep the cranes in the air.
Building the Future Skilled Workforce
With ambitious construction and housing targets ahead, the focus on growing the skilled trades workforce has never been greater. Both provincial and federal initiatives are underway to train and recruit the people who will literally build B.C.’s future:
Ongoing Skilled Trades Shortage or Surplus? It might feel like we hear “labour shortage” constantly, but the reality is evolving. As noted, construction hiring has cooled slightly in 2025, giving breathing room. However, the long-term outlook still points to huge demand. B.C.’s latest Labour Market Outlook projects about **99,600 job openings in construction over the next decade news.gov.bc.ca. Nationwide, the federal government’s housing plan to build 3.87 million homes by 2031 will require “thousands of new skilled tradespeople” in the coming years canada.ca. Simply put, we’ll need a new generation of trades workers to replace retirees and fill new positions as big projects and housing construction ramp up.
Training & Apprenticeships: June saw continued investments in trades training. The Government of Canada, through its Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, is funding equipment and training updates to modernize apprenticeship programs (e.g. $20 million for new training equipment this year) canada.cacanada.ca. Budget 2024 earmarked $90 million to help small and medium employers hire apprentices and $10 million for awareness programs to attract people into trades canada.ca. The message is clear: there is support for those pursuing apprenticeships. In B.C., the Province is also funding organizations that help underrepresented groups get into trades. A recent $5 million investment is boosting programs for women, Indigenous Peoples, and others – helping with pre-apprenticeship training, mentorship, and breaking down barriers news.gov.bc.canews.gov.bc.ca. (Currently, only about 10% of B.C. apprentices are women and ~8.5% are Indigenous electricalindustry.ca, so there’s plenty of room to grow the talent pool by welcoming new people into our industry.)
Emphasis on Certification and Safety: As the workforce expands, there’s also a drive to uphold high standards. B.C. reinstated compulsory trade certification for several trades to ensure all workers are properly credentialed – a phased rollout that reinforces training and safety on job sites. Nationally, experts like Jim Stanford are urging that as we “build, baby, build,” we also expand apprenticeship and vocational programs and integrate new skills (think green construction, advanced technologies) centreforfuturework.ca.
Immigration and Mobility: Immigration continues to be a strategy to alleviate skilled labour gaps. Canada’s immigration plan is still bringing in newcomers (including many with trades skills), though there are discussions about balancing intake with housing availability. Meanwhile, improved recognition of credentials (like the new Red Seal mobility enhancements under Bill C-5) will help workers go where the work is. This is good news for contractors who travel between provinces or projects – fewer delays getting your crew certified in a new locale.
