By including 25 new occupations in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), starting November 16, the Western Canadian province is boosting its construction sector.
The occupations in question include a variety of trades, such as welders, plumbers, and electricians. These new additions are a welcome addition to BC’s other focal areas, such as early childhood educators, tech, healthcare occupations, veterinarians, animal health technologists, and vet technicians.
The policy change is a testament to the province’s response to the immediate need for skilled labour in the construction industry, as per ConstructConnect’s Journal of Commerce (JOC).
The sector is the top employer in the provincial goods sector and accounts for 10.3 percent ($27 billion) of its GDP, but it has been facing a severe labour shortage in recent times, with an eight percent drop in tradespeople over three years, with the average company size shrinking by 10 percent to 6.24 workers.
The BC Construction Association (BCCA) reported this, in combination with outdated regulations about paying contractors on time, being the potential cause of a major slowdown in the booming business.
