BC Hydro Site C workforce shrinks further in November, Indigenous employment rises 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro is reporting a further decrease in the number of workers at its Site C project, according to November’s report.

The hydroelectric company says 2,149 total workers were employed at the site compared to 2,379 in October.

BC Hydro’s report states, “As major milestones are completed, we expect total employment will continue to trend downward through 2024 and until the project is completed in 2025.”

Of the total workers on the project, the statistics show 77 per cent of the 1,480 construction or non-construction contractors employed resided in B.C.

597 of those, or about 40 per cent, were residents of the Peace Region.

Another 669 were employed as engineers and project team members, with 89 percent—or 596—of those being B.C. residents.

The number of apprentices also shrunk, from 112 in October to just 96 in November.  

However, BCHydro says there will be opportunities for apprentices as construction progresses.

With female worker numbers also decreasing from 262 to 243, one increase was the number of Indigenous workers at the site.

The number rose from 120 in October to 142 in November.  

BC Hydro says this is due to the contractual requirement for on-site construction and non-construction contractors to report inclusion within their workforce.

The reservoir completed filling in November, and anticipation is all generating units will become operational in fall of 2025.