Corporate perks include extra vacation time, company cars as commercial and residential builders compete for top-end workers in shrinking talent pool
High demand for skilled construction trades, particularly with estimating and management experience, is reflected in higher salaries and fatter perks, according to the Hays 2015 Construction Salary Guide done for the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA).
“Demand is driving competitive base salaries, with employers using incentives such as company vehicles or extra vacation to attract top candidates,” said Russell Carnley, senior manager, Vancouver, with Hays Construction and Property.
With more than 117,400 people working in construction, the Lower Mainland accounts for 87% of B.C.’s construction work and employee retention is crucial, Carnley said.
Challenges facing big commercial and residential builders include an aging workforce and potential poaching of skilled tradespeople as B.C.’s liquefied natural gas industry prepares to fire up.
The Hays survey found that 69% of Vancouver-area employers are already having “moderate to extreme” hiring difficulties, especially for management positions. Forty-four per cent said there’s a lack of skilled candidates entering the industry. More than half said they were recruiting workers from outside the province, with 42% recruiting offshore.
They’re also offering more money.
According to the survey, average annual salaries for project managers and construction superintendents in general contracting rose approximately 2% in the past year and now top around $149,000 and $100,000, respectively.
Construction foremen who work “on the tools” as well as supervisory staff saw an average raise of 2.3%, with top earners making just under $100,000.
The top earners are vice-
presidents and operation managers, who are often responsible for multiple construction projects running concurrently. Their average earnings increased 1.9% in the past year to the $300,000 range for even mid-sized general contractors.
Competition for skilled workers is rising as the building season heats up, according to the VRCA. In Metro Vancouver, the number of people working in construction hit 99,100 in April, up 1% from a year earlier.
“Construction employment is picking up momentum and continuing its upward trend,” said VRCA president Fiona Famulak. •
