Employment declines at Site C for July as dam becomes fully operational

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro reported declining employment at the Site C facility during what was the last full month before the hydroelectric dam became fully operational.

The utility has released its monthly employment statistics for the Peace River-based facility for July 2025, showing a total of 1,266 people employed at the site, down from 1,349 a month prior in June.

Of those, 1,047 people — roughly 83 per cent — were primary B.C. residents, and 249 of them — about 20 per cent — were primary Peace River Regional District residents.

That’s a proportional increase from the 81 and 19 per cent figures for those values reported in June.

The number of Indigenous workers and women employed at Site C also fell, to 39 (three per cent) and 156 (12 per cent) respectively in July compared to 46 (3.4 per cent) and 160 (12 per cent) in June.

Despite those declines, the number of apprentices employed at Site C rose slightly, from 30 (two per cent) in June to 34 (2.6 per cent) in July.

A few days after the end of July, on August 9th, BC Hydro announced the Site C dam was fully operational, with all six generating units turned on. 

Remaining construction work at the facility will be focused on completing its powerhouse and generating station, paving access roads, commissioning any final equipment still needed and addressing any deficiencies that crop up.