Site C employment decline continues through March

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro has reported another drop in employment at the Site C hydroelectric dam project.

According to the latest employment numbers released by the utility, 1,578 people worked on the project during March of 2025, down slightly from the 1,604 reported in February.

BC Hydro says this is part of a downward trend that’s expected to continue as the project’s fall completion date approaches.

The report claims 80 per cent of the construction and non-construction contractors working at the site in March were primary B.C. residents, up from 75 per cent in February. Of those, 23 per cent were primary Peace region residents.

The number of Peace region residents working at the facility increased slightly, from 221 (14 per cent) in February to 235 (15 per cent) in March.

Increases were also reported in both the number of Indigenous people working and women working at the facility. 

March saw 61 (four per cent) Indigenous workers compared to 49 (three per cent) in February, and 185 women (12 per cent) compared to 166 (10 per cent) last month.

However, the number of apprentices employed on the Site C project fell from 77 (five per cent) to 54 (three per cent).

As of April 2nd, the fourth generating unit at Site C is now operational, meaning the dam on the Peace River is more than halfway towards its goal of being fully operational by fall 2025.