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Western Canadian construction has some labour mobility challenges.

A by the Canada West Foundation (CWF) says construction workers need training in specialized (often technical) competencies, to enable them to move between sectors of the industry.

According to the CWF report, residential and ICI projects have different labour requirements.

Most ICI projects are more complex than residential. They’re costlier, larger, take longer to build and have more stringent regulatory requirements.

Most residential construction worker teams are smaller and more versatile, while ICI projects consist of larger teams with more specialized roles and skill sets.

As the federal government’s Major Projects Office gets up to speed, and provinces and municipalities develop their own projects, CWF says it will not be a shortage of money or projects holding back activity, but a lack of workers with the right skills.

The report says the industry needs a strategy to facilitate transition between residential and commercial construction, recognizing where skills are transferable and where additional training is required.

Although many foundational skills, such as safety compliance, blueprint reading, equipment operation and project co-ordination are transferable, commercial projects increasingly demand more specialized technical competencies, such as digital tools, advanced materials knowledge and complex systems integration.

Bridging the divide could improve labour flexibility, stabilize employment cycles and align workforce capacity with evolving project demands.

A number of institutions in Western Canada are already addressing the labour mobility challenge with micro-credential courses.

For example, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) offers five through its Zero Energy and Emissions Building (ZEB) Learning Centre.

The programs are designed to be taken across two terms and completed within eight months.

Courses are delivered online with virtual live sessions and independent work on a varied schedule of weekday afternoons and evenings.

For example, the Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction micro-credential is for anyone working in construction or who has recently completed a construction program and who wants to learn how to supervise construction on net-zero, net-zero-ready or Passive House construction projects.

The Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Professional micro-credential teaches how to use life cycle assessment in construction design.

Developed with the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, the course consists of four online courses.

TradeUpBC, in partnership with 17 provincial post-secondary institutions, has for the construction trades.

TradeUpBC manager Eric Fry says the B.C. government initiative helps trade professionals and employers in different industries stay up to date and adaptable with short courses that take no more than a total of 288 hours.

It offers training in seven areas: Changes in technology, climate change impacts, leadership skills development, business skills, inclusive workplaces, educator training and advanced safety skills.

For example, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing is a 36-hour course that covers the entire process of additive manufacturing, from the initial concept to the final creation.

Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction (96 hours) is for people in the construction industry or those who have recently completed a related construction program and who want to learn how to supervise construction on net-zero, net-zero-ready or Passive House construction projects.

Introductory Studies in Mass Timber Construction (60 hours) introduces students who already have construction experience to the mass timber industry and to some of the fundamental features of mass timber construction.

In Alberta, the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association has partnered with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to deliver a series of micro-credentials that lead to a .

In nine courses, students learn how to describe and implement engineering and construction best practices in transportation, geotechnical applications and pavement materials.

NAIT also offers micro-credentials in construction leadership. See for details.

Alberta Construction Association (ACA) executive director Warren Singh says the construction industry in the province is seeing more demand for expertise in such digital technologies as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and visual design and construction (VDC).

ACA has partnered with industry to develop post-credential training to train construction workers through its Learning Management Systems portal to become “digitally capable.”

Beginning in June, the ACA Digital Tradesperson will offer such courses as Tradespeople Transitioning to VDC Roles, Exposing Tradespeople to BIM and VDC, and Artificial Intelligence in Construction.

Finally, for those who are looking for comprehensive construction trades training, BC Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke suggests the training providers in the .

The college is made up of more than a dozen and campuses across the province.