British Columbia含羞草研究社檚 construction industry says its workforce numbers have improved in recent years, but labour shortages persist and are putting 含羞草研究社渆xtreme pressures含羞草研究社� on employers.

The BC Construction Association says the shortage of qualified workers has pushed the average annual wage in the sector to just short of $75,000, up 21 per cent in the last five years.

The association says the average entry-level wage for construction workers is now at more than $22 an hour, 25 per cent above minimum wage in the province.

Association president Chris Atchison says in a statement that labour levels have improved, with a projected deficit of 6,600 skilled workers in B.C. by 2033, compared to the forecasted need of 26,100 by 2023 estimated a decade ago.

Atchison says the industry still saw the number of trades workers drop by 7 per cent over the last five years to 167,300, and the average construction company in the province has seen its size contract by 15 per cent during that time.

The association says construction companies also face persistent uncertainty when it comes to getting paid for their work, with contractors possibly having to 含羞草研究社渨ait months for payment.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭hey experience significant financial risk and take on the increased cost of debt, which can put them in danger of bankruptcy,含羞草研究社� the association statement says. 含羞草研究社淭hey are put in the position of 含羞草研究社榝inancing含羞草研究社� construction projects, including the housing B.C. desperately needs.含羞草研究社�

Atchison says the group is urging B.C. Premier David Eby to enact prompt-payment legislation to provide relief to the industry, which is responsible for 229,100 employees and $27 billion 含羞草研究社� or 10.3 per cent 含羞草研究社� of the province含羞草研究社檚 GDP.

READ ALSO: