Construction in the Lower Mainland is on an upswing, according to the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.
The value of building permits for the Lower Mainland and Southwest region of B.C. was $841.3 million in July, a 16% increase over June's $727.5 million, according to the association's analysis of a Statistics Canada building permit report.
"Construction activity in the Lower Mainland is on a strong uptrend, and it is reflected in this month's permit numbers," said VRCA president Keith Sashaw.
"Total permits issued reached their third highest monthly level since the economic recession of 2008-09, with commercial permits hitting their second highest level."
Non-residential permits rose 30% to $231 million from $177 million in June. Residential permit values rose 11% to $610 million in July from $550 million in June.
According to the StatsCan's Labour Force Survey, construction employment slipped 0.7% in August compared with the previous month in the Lower Mainland and Southwest region. Metro Vancouver construction employment fell 0.4% to 89,800 jobs in August.
The association said the decline in construction employment is to be viewed as temporary, with gains expected later this year, as permitting for large projects get underway.
One such project is the Telus Gardens office and residential development in downtown Vancouver.
See next week's issue of Business in Vancouver for more on Vancouver's building boom.
