With about 17,160 workers in 1998, this is a very large occupational group. The group grew from 15,680 workers in 1990. The unemployment rate for this group is slightly lower than the average unemployment rate for the overall B.C. workforce. However, this occupational group does include a number of construction trades that are subject to periods of booms and busts within the business cycle. Some workers are dependent upon weather conditions as well.
Workers can expect periodic layoffs between projects.
The remainder work in more specialized trades and are spread out among other industries. These workers are distributed across the province in about the same proportions as the workforce as a whole. These occupations are dominated by men. Although more women have entered these trades in recent years, they have yet to attain senior positions in large numbers. Because these are senior positions, this occupational group has many older workers.