Site C employment continues to decline in September

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The number of workers at Site C continues to decline as the project approaches completion.

According to the latest employment numbers released by BC Hydro, a total of 2,542 workers were employed at the site in September, down from 2,766 in August. Of those, 1,803 were “construction and non-construction contractors.”

1,955 of employees — roughly 77 per cent — were primary B.C. residents.

383 of the contracted workers — 21 per cent — are Peace River Regional District residents.

The number of apprentices employed at the site also went down, from 196 in August to 134 in September, as did the number of women, from 294 in August to 282 in September.

127 employees at the site self-identified as Indigenous, a very slight downtick from the 129 reported in August.

Reservoir filling at Site C has continued without incident, and as of earlier this month, the reservoir is 90 per cent full.

Earlier this week, the dam’s first power-generating unit came online, and the remaining five units are expected to be active by next fall.