Productivity: A Crisis Now Firmly on our Doorstep
We pride ourselves in Alberta on our capacity to create businesses and industries, and to provide much of the foundation of our national economy....
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CALGARY – The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA Alberta) today released its Alberta Construction Monitor, authored by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson, highlighting major opportunities tied to Canada’s accelerated project approvals and Alberta’s resource strengths.
Drawing on federal and provincial datasets, the report notes 111 current and potential natural-resource projects in Alberta – representing $148 billion of the federal inventory’s $633 billion pipeline – led overwhelmingly by energy (oil and gas, carbon capture/storage, power generation/transmission, and downstream processing).
Construction accounts for 8.2% of Alberta’s GDP, with sector employment at 245,400 (+2.1% y/y) and average weekly wages at $1,735. Recent market indicators show 5,763 urban housing starts (+39% y/y) and $2.1 billion in building permits (+48% y/y).
“This is Alberta’s moment to build,” said Mike Martens, President, ICBA Alberta. “With Ottawa committing to cut major project approvals from five years to two, Alberta’s builders are ready to deliver the infrastructure that drives Canada’s prosperity – provided departments and regulators match that urgency on the ground.”
Finlayson’s analysis underscores that Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan together account for 80% of the value of projects in the federal inventory, with energy representing nearly four-fifths of total capital spending. The Monitor also tracks monthly business and housing indicators relevant to construction leaders assessing pipeline visibility, workforce, and bidding strategies.
“Alberta’s construction sector is positioned at the sharp end of a national investment cycle, especially in energy and related infrastructure,” Martens added. “If Canada wants to be an energy superpower, it runs through Alberta’s trades, project managers, and entrepreneurs.”
The Alberta Construction Monitor is a quarterly ICBA Alberta publication that provides ahead-of-the-curve intelligence for contractors, suppliers, and project owners. The full Summer 2025 edition is available HERE or at icbaalberta.ca/economics.
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