Associations

‘Shocking’ data: BCCA survey reveals 91% of respondents are being paid late, 69% not paid at all

DCN-JOC News Services April 8, 2025

VICTORIA — Urgent government action is needed and red flags are being raised by the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) after its newly released spring Stat Pack and annual survey show 91 per cent of employer respondents reported being paid late at one time this past year and 69 per cent were not paid at all at least once for work completed.

“From tariffs and lack of prompt payment to labour shortages and faltering public sector standards on permits, contracts and procurement, hard-working British Columbians are struggling with excessive and unnecessary uncertainty,” said Chris Atchison, BCCA president, in a statement. “The provincial government must deliver on strategies and initiatives that better support construction in B.C.”

The BCCA is once again reiterating its call for prompt payment legislation.

“At a time when supporting domestic and local industries to strengthen our province and economy is more important than ever, payment certainty is absolutely critical,” added Atchison. “Fixing the prompt payment problem will improve cash flow for British Columbians and support contractors in managing their staff, evolving supply chains and onerous regulatory regimes without taking on extra debt and financial expenses amidst an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The B.C. government has the tools to solve this challenge but chooses not to.”

Key findings revealed in the stat pack show:

Value of proposed construction projects in B.C.: $172.5 billion, an increase of four per cent since fall 2024.
The estimated value of current major construction projects underway in B.C.: $158 billion, a decrease of seven per cent since fall 2024, and a 41 per cent increase over the past five years.
Construction is the number one employer in B.C.’s goods sector.
B.C.’s construction industry accounts for 10 per cent of the province’s GDP. A 12 per cent increase over the past five years.
251,000 people rely directly on B.C.’s construction industry for a paycheque.
Number of workers in trades jobs: 191,200.
The number of women in construction trades is 10,133 (5.3 per cent), an increase of over 2,750 over the past year.
Number of construction companies in B.C.: 28,096, an increase of over 200 companies over the past year.
The average yearly wage of B.C. construction employees is $81,555 an increase of 13 per cent over the past year and 38 per cent over the past five years.
Current job vacancies is 11,555.
Number of projected construction jobs in B.C. that will be unfilled due to labour shortages by 2034: 14,100.
Multi-unit residential construction starts (six month rolling average): 35,346.
Number of tower cranes currently erected in B.C.: 400.