Construction jobs in the Lower Mainland-Southwest Region totaled 116,300 in January 2015, according to the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA). This represents a 2.3 per cent drop from December 2014 and a decline of 8.7 per cent year-over-year.

“Regional construction employment has been declining for the past several months, and this has added to the decline we typically see in January,” said Fiona Famulak, President of the VRCA. “This isn’t surprising given the seasonal nature of construction employment.”

In Metro Vancouver, employment declined 1.1 per cent to 93,100 jobs, between December and January. This was 14.5 per cent below employment in January 2014.

Abbotsford saw construction sector jobs increase to 11,400 in January 2015, up 0.9 per cent from the previous month and 22.6 per cent above the total for January 2014. Growth was primarily attributable to residential construction.

“Abbotsford’s growth points to opportunities for the construction sector,” Famulak said. “Building permit activity, typically an indicator of future construction, increased across the region in 2014. We expect construction employment to strengthen later in 2015, as well.”  Famulak said moderate growth in the regional economy and low interest rates will support construction activity in 2015.