Province
OTTAWA — Housing-construction activity will slow dramatically next year, but the non-residential sector will continue to grow, the Canadian Construction Association predicted yesterday.
Overall, the national construction industry is expected to grow by 1.2 per cent in 2006, the association said.
But the residential sector is expected to see a 2.8-per-cent decline, compared with 2005, when that segment of the industry had an estimated 1.1-per-cent increase over the previous year.
The non-residential sector is expected to continue growing next year. Figures compiled for the association by Informetrica Ltd. estimate 2006 will experience 3.3-per-cent growth in 2006, on top of 3.9-per-cent growth in 2005.
Transportation engineering, oil and gas projects and electrical power engineering in particular will lead the way in 2006 for non-residential construction growth, the association said.
Construction employment in 2005 grew 5.4 per cent, although job growth is expected to moderate to only 0.8-per-cent growth in 2006.
Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia are forecast to lead the country in construction growth in 2006. Other provinces are expected to see declines.
© The Vancouver Province 2005
