MCABC welcomes B.C.’s $241-million commitment to expand trades-training capacity and support the province’s growing mechanical workforce
Vancouver, B.C. – The Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia (MCABC) welcomes today’s announcement by the Province of British Columbia regarding a $241-million investment to expand trades training. Increasing access to training seats and strengthening certification pathways will help more British Columbians build stable, well-paid, family-supporting careers and support the workforce needed to meet B.C.’s housing targets and deliver major infrastructure projects across the province.
Mechanical contractors face some of the most significant workforce pressures in construction, including in plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration and fire protection, as well as the full range of specialized mechanical trades—work essential to every new home, hospital, school, industrial facility and clean-energy project in B.C. Together, mechanical trades represent roughly 24 per cent of B.C.’s total construction output, employing more than 28,000 British Columbians directly and supporting another 25,000 indirect jobs.
Long wait times for training programs and regional shortages in skilled trades have been consistent barriers for employers and for people seeking to start or advance their mechanical trades careers. With more than three-quarters of B.C.’s mechanical contractors employing fewer than 10 people, these workforce pressures are often more acute for small companies that rely on timely access to skilled workers and on training pathways that help existing employees upgrade their skills. Across the wider construction sector, employers will need to recruit more than 60,000 workers by 2035 to replace retiring workers and keep pace with growth—reinforcing the importance of expanding training capacity today.
Today’s investment is an important step toward addressing these challenges by improving access and strengthening the training system across the province. Mechanical trades account for more than one-quarter of all apprenticeship registrations and certifications in B.C., reinforcing the need for expanded training capacity as demand continues to grow.
As government expands the trades-training system, MCABC encourages continued collaboration to ensure programs reflect the realities of today’s mechanical job sites—including the shift toward heat pumps, advanced control systems, modern HVAC technologies and the decarbonization requirements shaping both new construction and retrofit work. Ensuring people entering the trades, those growing their skills in the sector and the employers who rely on them all have the supports needed to succeed will be critical.
MCABC looks forward to working with government and other partners across the skilled trades sector to support expanded training and help grow the diverse, highly skilled mechanical workforce needed for the decade ahead.
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About
The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) is the dedicated representative of the mechanical contracting industry in British Columbia – the industry with the largest share of skilled trades workers in the construction sector. As the connection to industry excellence for our diverse membership, we deliver education and professional development programs that enable high standards of practice and business success. Through advocacy and strong industry partnerships, we influence policy and regulatory development at all levels of government, advancing the interests of our industry and improving its ability to meet B.C.’s growing infrastructure demand.
Media Contact
Conor Brendan Dunne
Manager, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
cdunne@mcabc.org
(604) 205-5058
