National Construction Industry Wage Rate Survey

2005 

Data from the 2005 National Construction Industry Wage Rate Survey are now available for British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The three most highly-paid construction occupations in British Columbia for which data are available were: elevator constructors who received $36.35 an hour on average as the most frequently paid wage rate; refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics ($29.94); and tower crane operators ($28.82).

The lowest paid occupations were trade helpers/labourers who received $17.34 an hour, traffic accommodation persons ($17.53) and trade helpers/labourers with first-aid certificate ($18.77). All were well above the provincial minimum wage of $8 an hour.

The surveyed occupations were selected in consultation with union and employer representatives from the construction industry. Because of their smaller populations, fewer occupations could be covered in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Among the occupations for which data are available, the highest paid construction workers in Northwest Territories were plumbers at $29.82 an hour, and the lowest, trade helpers/labourers at $16.80. The same pattern occurred in Nunavut. Plumbers received $23.61, and trade helpers/labourers, $16.94.

The survey covered establishments in the construction industry with six or more employees. The establishments were asked to provide wage rates for employees working full-time in selected occupations and to indicate whether the workers were unionized.

Data were collected for work on institutional or commercial construction sites only. For occupations with a compulsory trade licence, information was collected only for workers with the requisite licence.

Note: This survey is conducted on behalf of the Labour Branch of Human Resources and Social Development Canada to help establish wage schedules for workers on federal construction projects. The survey is conducted region by region moving sequentially across the country. Quebec and Yukon, where wage rates are established by the provincial or territorial government, are excluded. The next round of the survey will be conducted in 2006 and will cover Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2935.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Luke Pelot, (613-951-1002; luke.pelot@statcan.gc.ca), Small Business and Special Surveys Division.

For information or requests concerning the wage schedules developed from this survey data for workers on federal construction projects, contact Claude Saint-Jean, (819-953-3183; claude.stjean@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca), Human Resources and Social Development Canada.