INSIGHTS INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY.

Data-driven analysis, expert commentary, and clear economic signals to help construction leaders plan ahead and make confident decisions.

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Clear, Practical Economics for Builders and Business Leaders

The ICBA Economics team tracks the trends, forecasts, and policy decisions influencing construction and the broader provincial economy. From labour market changes to major project investment to government policy shifts, we break complex issues down into practical insights you can use.
4 min read

The Looming Construction Labour Supply Crunch in Western Canada

Jock Finlayson: Aug 18, 2026

The Canadian construction job market has cooled after a few frenzied years in the immediate aftermath of the worst of the 2020-21 COVID pandemic. Job vacancy rates in the sector have retreated from the record highs recorded in 2022-23 –...
2 min read

OP/ED: Canada’s move away from fossil fuels remains greatly exaggerated

Jock Finlayson: Aug 14, 2026

The following piece, by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson, was first published in the Toronto Sun on August 14, 2026. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global markets for crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG),...
2 min read

ICBA EconoBot | A Toronto Hospital Is Not a National Construction Recovery

Jordan Bateman: Aug 13, 2026

TOP STORY A Toronto Hospital Is Not a National Construction Recovery National building permits jumped 18.5% in June to $14.9 billion, the sort of number that gets a government press release written. Read the fine print. Nearly all of it...
Policy And Regulation
Policy and Regulation

Breakdowns of new provincial rules, permitting changes, procurement shifts, and labour legislation.

Major Projects Update

Major Projects Updates

Tracking the progress, delays, and opportunities in B.C.’s largest construction and infrastructure projects.

Economic Trends-1

Economic & Labour Trends

Workforce demand, wage pressures, market forecasts, and what they mean for contractors.
Regional Impacts
Regional Impacts

Insights tailored to the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Interior, and Northern B.C.

About Jock Finlayson

Jock Finlayson is the Chief Economist for the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), the first to hold the role in the organization’s 50-year history. He provides analysis, forecasts, and policy insight for B.C.’s construction sector and advises ICBA on economic trends and strategic issues.

Jock previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the Business Council of British Columbia, and before that as Vice President of Research at the Business Council of Canada. He holds degrees from UBC and Yale, along with an honorary Doctor of Laws from Royal Roads University.

A widely published economist, Jock has authored two books and more than 50 articles and commentaries, and is a frequent contributor to Business in Vancouver, the Globe and Mail, Black Press, and other media.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Canada, the National Statistics Council, and several national research and policy organizations. Jock is a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute and a Fellow of Royal Roads University.

Jock Finlayson

 

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