0016-NOC

Construction managers

(NOC 70010)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$93,247
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
Management
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
7,270

Career Overview

Construction managers plan, organize, lead and evaluate the activities of a construction company, department or projects. They typically manage projects from start to finish, including overseeing the schedule, budget and resources.

They need to have good organizational and leadership skills. They also need communication skills because they speak with other workers, suppliers, customers, neighbours and community members. Individuals need to help workers when needed and make sure that projects are on schedule and on budget.

Depending on the employer and the project, a construction manager might have a different title, for example, project manager, senior project manager, project director or senior project director.

Duties

Construction managers:

  • Plan, organize, lead and evaluate construction projects from start to finish
  • Make sure the project stays on schedule, on budget and meets deliverables
  • Prepare and submit construction project budget estimates
  • Plan and prepare construction schedules and project milestones as well as track progress
  • Prepare contracts and oversee any changes
  • Develop and put in place quality control and risk management plans
  • Negotiate business services and union contracts
  • Prepare reports for clients and team members
  • Oversee the purchase of building materials
  • Hire and supervise subcontractors and staff

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$93,247

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$65.75/hr
Median$44.71/hr
Low$30.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

17,025

% Employed Full Time

71%
Source: 2021 Census

People in this job do some of their work in an office but are mainly at the job site. Sometimes, an office is set up in a trailer or other temporary facility on the job site. 

People in this job manage projects, renovations or construction in these locations:

  • Houses
  • Apartment/condo buildings
  • Hospitals and schools
  • Warehouses, office buildings, stores and malls
  • Manufacturing plants, pulp and paper mills and other facilities
  • Roads, bridges and other large-scale infrastructure projects

Construction managers work with general contracting firms, trade companies, architectural or design companies and engineering consultants. They may also be self-employed.

They generally work more than 40 hours a week, depending on the project schedule and if there are delays or other issues. Often, construction managers are on call seven days a week in case of emergencies.

People in this job may need to climb ladders, get onto high scaffolding or into small spaces and lift heavy objects. They review completed work, help others on the site and work out a solution to a problem.

Being on a job site means that construction managers deal with various weather conditions, depending on the season. Safety is a priority and workers must stay up to date on health and safety regulations to ensure everyone follows them.

Career Pathways

Progression to senior management positions is possible with experience and education/training.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Enterprising
Enterprising

Job Titles

Commercial construction manager
Construction manager
Construction project manager
Construction superintendent
General contractor
Housing construction manager
Industrial construction manager
Pipeline construction manager
Residential construction manager

Education, Training and Skills

Construction managers may require:

  • A degree in construction management or in a construction-related professional engineering field, like civil engineering
  • A master’s degree in project management or a related field, depending on the size and complexity of the project (extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements)
  • Several years of mid-management experience in the construction industry, including experience as a project co-ordinator, site supervisor, trade lead or construction supervisor
  • Professional engineering status or Red Seal certification

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Construction & Trades Supervision/Management
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.

75%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

75%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

72%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

72%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

72%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

72%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

68%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

68%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

68%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

68%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

17,025
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 395 2.3%
Kootenay 385 2.3%
Mainland/Southwest 11,120 65.3%
North Coast and Nechako 250 1.5%
Northeast 240 1.4%
Thompson-Okanagan 2,220 13.0%
Vancouver Island/Coast 2,420 14.2%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

7,270
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 140 -0.4%
Kootenay 160 0.2%
Mainland/Southwest 4,070 0.5%
North Coast and Nechako 160 0.2%
Northeast 110 0.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,420 1.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,220 0.8%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Construction5,690
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services570
Finance, Insurance And Real Estate150
Public Administration130
Utilities100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

According to industry sources, a good construction manager must have critical thinking skills and be able to make informed decisions quickly. This is because the day-to-day work is always changing. For example, supply chain challenges create opportunities for construction managers to solve problems.

Construction managers may have to speak publicly at community meetings or deal with angry neighbours or community members.

Ongoing education and training are important to a successful career. Companies look for construction managers with up-to-date technology and software skills. A degree from a post-secondary school in construction or project management and ongoing training/education may earn workers a higher salary.

There are many areas in construction and each one of them needs a specific skill set. People in this job can build a career that is interesting, challenging and rewarding. There are many career paths – from working on small residential renovations to large infrastructure projects – and individuals can specialize in a particular area. Also, it’s become more common for clients to hire in-house construction managers or project managers to work on large projects.

The number of women in this career is slowly increasing and some companies are focused on building a foundation of equity, diversity and inclusion in this industry.

Resources