Kerry and Jordan kick off 2025 with a look at the month ahead, ICBA's Red Seal Dinner, and this week's featured course. Lean Construction Education Program (CM Lean) January 14-22, 2025 (Live online) 10 Gold Seal Credits and 28 BC Housing CPD Points...
ICBA50 #1: Intimidation and Anarchy
ICBA celebrates 50 years of serving open shop construction this year, and we are looking back every week at some of the significant moments, milestones, and people who helped ICBA become Canada’s largest construction association. Today, we wind the clock back to the...
ICBA NEWS RELEASE: 72% of B.C. Construction Companies Face Severe Labour Shortages
SURREY – Amid a housing affordability crisis and growing economic uncertainty, a staggering 72% of B.C. contractors report a shortage of skilled tradespeople, according to the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) 2025 Wage and Benefits Survey of...
ICBA FOUNDATION: 2025 is Our Year!
New year, and a new ICBA Foundation! In 2025, we are launching our new charity dedicated to helping trades apprentices get their Red Seals and supporting mental wellness in construction. It will build on our half-century of work with the trades, and our position as...
ICBA FOUNDATION: Building Stronger Futures in 2025
Merry Christmas! A huge gift is coming for trades apprentices in 2025 – the launch of the ICBA Foundation! This is a new charity dedicated to helping trades apprentices get their Red Seals and supporting mental wellness in construction. It will build on our...
ICBA ECONOMICS: 2025-26 Forecast
By Jock Finlayson, ICBA Chief Economist As a new year beckons, Canadian policymakers and business leaders find themselves staring at an unsettled economic landscape that renders the task of forecasting more perilous than usual. The past two years have been...
ICBA OP/ED: B.C.’s government will face extraordinary economic challenges in 2025
The following piece by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson first appeared in Business in Vancouver on Dec. 19, 2024. As the clock ticks down on a turbulent 2024, Premier David Eby and his recently installed cabinet are staring at an uncertain and unforgiving economic...
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #181: Our Final Edition
For more than three-and-a-half years, I’ve been writing Wellness Wednesdays for ICBA’s social channels – sharing tips, takes, and tales from our work in mental health. But this will be our final regular edition. While Wellness Wednesday is wrapping up, our work in...
ICBA OP/ED – B.C.’s business disadvantage about to get worse
The following op-ed, written by Jordan Bateman, ICBA's VP-Communications, first appeared in Business in Vancouver on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. David Eby made his annual visit to the B.C. business community this week, but if you were looking for specifics and good news,...
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📢 ICBA Alberta’s Budget 2025 Recommendations![]()
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Alberta is leading Canada with 2.5% GDP growth, booming housing starts, and growing opportunities for businesses and workers. To sustain this success, ICBA Alberta has urged the Danielle Smith government to prioritize:![]()
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✅ Balanced Budgets & Competitive Taxes: Keeping Alberta attractive to investors and skilled workers.![]()
✅ Open Competition for Infrastructure Projects: Avoid costly policies like CBAs, which exclude 85% of contractors and drive up costs.![]()
✅ Skilled Trades Workforce: Expand apprenticeship seats and streamline immigration for skilled workers.![]()
✅ Housing Affordability: Accelerate residential development approvals to address the housing crisis.![]()
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Together, these measures will ensure Alberta continues to lead the nation in economic growth. Let’s build Alberta’s future! 💪![]()
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Read more: icbaalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-AB-Budget-Submission_ICBA-Alberta-FINAL.pdf![]()
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#ABBudget2025 #BuildingAlberta #ICBAAlberta
Kerry and Jordan kick off 2025 with a look at the month ahead, ICBA's Red Seal Dinner, and this week's featured course.![]()
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Lean Construction Education Program (CM Lean)![]()
January 14-22, 2025 (Live online)![]()
10 Gold Seal Credits and 28 BC Housing CPD Points![]()
icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/304-lean-construction-education-program-cm-lean/2430![]()
Missed this one? Check out www.icba.ca/courses![]()
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Lean Construction is driven to minimize costs and maximize value on each project completed, challenging all stakeholders to develop and apply better ways to manage the overall construction process.![]()
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The updated AGC Edge Lean Construction Education Program engages students with numerous activities and group discussions designed to apply Lean Construction principles and practices. Key course activities include the Parade of Trades exercise where participants will learn the effects of varying and unreliable workflow versus smooth and reliable workflow. Students will also learn and practice the Last Planner® System in a simulation that teaches students to engage in a way that produces predictable workflow and rapid learning.![]()
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After participants complete all five units in the program, they become eligible to sit for an exam to earn the Certificate of Management – Lean Construction (CM-Lean).
Things we found in our 2025 ICBA Wage and Benefits Survey:![]()
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💰 Construction pays. The average hourly wage for trades in 2025 is expected to hit $37/hr – that’s an annual base salary of $77,000+ before benefits, bonuses, or overtime.![]()
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🚀 With wages growing faster than inflation and strong work prospects ahead, construction remains a top-tier career choice in B.C.![]()
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🔎 Discover the latest industry insights in ICBA’s Wage and Benefits Survey: www.icbaindependent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ICBA-Winter-202425-Web.pdf
📉 ICBA Wage and Benefit Survey finds 63% of B.C. contractors say government policies are on the “wrong track” for businesses like theirs. With labour shortages, project delays, and increasing red tape, contractors face major headwinds in 2025.![]()
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🏗 Despite these challenges, the sector remains resilient, with a 19% average expected work volume increase for 2025.![]()
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✅ It's time for policymakers to streamline training programs and approvals to let the construction industry thrive.![]()
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🔗 Full details here: www.icbaindependent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ICBA-Winter-202425-Web.pdf
ICBA is proud to be part of the Save Our Streets initiative, dedicated to pushing back crime and violence in our communities.![]()
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Join us on January 23, 2025, for the Save Our Streets (SOS) Forum, a pivotal event addressing the pressing issues of crime and public safety in British Columbia. This forum brings together leaders and experts to explore comprehensive solutions to challenges impacting businesses and communities across the province.![]()
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The agenda features insightful panel discussions on critical topics:![]()
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- Justice for All: Challenges and Choices![]()
- Policing and Public Safety: Options and Opportunities in Changing Times![]()
- Prescription for a Continuum of Care: Addictions and Mental Illnesses![]()
- A Place to Call Home: The Role of Housing in Combatting Crime, Violence, and Public Disorder![]()
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This forum offers business leaders a unique opportunity to engage with policymakers, law enforcement, and community advocates to collaboratively develop actionable strategies for safer, more vibrant communities. For more information and to register, visit saveourstreets.ca/forum/ .
72% of B.C. Construction Companies Face Severe Labour Shortages: ![]()
ICBA 2025 Wage and Benefits Survey![]()
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SURREY – Amid a housing affordability crisis and growing economic uncertainty, a staggering 72% of B.C. contractors report a shortage of skilled tradespeople, according to the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) 2025 Wage and Benefit Survey of its construction members. This persistent issue is forcing businesses to delay or turn down projects and absorb rising costs, undermining B.C.’s ability to address its housing and infrastructure needs.![]()
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Further, 63% of respondents said government is on the “wrong track” in dealing with a business like theirs – only 5% answered that government is on the “right track.”![]()
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“When nearly two-thirds of businesses in a major job-creating sector say the government is on the wrong track, it’s time to listen,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President and CEO. “Labour shortages remain a significant challenge facing construction, and government must get serious about fast-tracking training programs and aligning immigration policies with industry needs.”![]()
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Despite these challenges, demand in the construction sector remains strong. Nearly 50% of contractors expect increased work volumes in 2025, with average anticipated growth reaching 19%. Wages in construction also remain highly competitive, with the average hourly rate climbing to $37, equating to an annual base salary of $77,000 – without bonuses, benefits or overtime factored in.![]()
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“Our industry continues to deliver, despite worker shortages, regulatory burdens, and project delays. But B.C.’s construction sector could contribute so much more if government policies enabled us to thrive,” Gardner added. “Instead, contractors and businesses get more red tape, higher taxes, and a seemingly never-ending stream of anti-business rhetoric that have many saying it’s never been harder to start and build a business in B.C. than it is today.”![]()
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The ICBA survey underscores the urgent need for the provincial and federal governments to tackle skills shortages, streamline approvals, and prioritize policies that support housing and infrastructure development.![]()
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To access the ICBA Wage and Benefits Survey report, visit www.icbaindependent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ICBA-Winter-202425-Web.pdf
