FROM THE EDITOR SKILLED LABOUR GAP DECREASES, BUT THE NEED FOR MORE EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS REMAINS

According to the British Columbia Construction Association’s (BCCA) 2023 Annual Survey, B.C.’s contractors across industrial, commercial, and institutional, as well as residential, sectors are currently facing a range of pressures that paint a picture of concern and stress. Major concerns include cost and contract pressures, and late payments and contract disputes are also significant challenges for B.C. contractors. These are issues that have been felt across the country. One ongoing source of stress, which we hear about regularly, is the shortage of labour. On this front, there has been improvement in B.C., according to the survey.

The association notes that there has been a sizable increase in wages for labourers and skilled workers, and the labour shortage gap in the construction has shrunk over the past ten years – but it is still of significant concern to employers.

In recent years, manufacturers have focused on developing equipment that makes it easier for contractors to get and keep operators in the seat and make them more productive. These include incredibly realistic equipment simulators as well as technology to assist with accurate digging. There are now many tools that help new workers get the job done faster and more accurately.

In this issue we take a look at a range of technologies shown at CONEXPO, several of which are currently specialized, but could eventually empower more contractors to do work with less available labour. Automation technology to operate ADTs, automation to complete pile driving for solar farm installations, and autonomy systems that enable one operator to supervise and control multiple machines are already deployed around the world – if in limited capacity for now.

The familiar machines that can carry out multiple job site tasks with one operator are also a focus this issue – we take a deep dive into compact track loaders with our 2023 spec guide. Explore the options on the market and learn about a range of popular models. We also take a closer look at CASE’s new lineup of backhoe loaders. The company says that the backhoe loader is making a comeback because its versatility enables one operator to get more jobs done – a need driven by the limited availability of operators.

The BCCA’s survey demonstrates that there are good opportunities to work in construction with favourable conditions for new hires to get their start and for skilled talent to advance in the industry. With the right equipment decisions, contractors can get the most out of the next generation of talent – even if there continues to be less of it.

Kaitlyn Till Editor in Chief