Projections on the level of construction and resulting employment stemming from new construction projects see rates levelling off until 2003, according to the Canadian Construction Association. This may have an overflowing impact on the landscape construction industry. Released this September by the Canadian Construction Association, these projections reveal that construction GDP, defined as “value-added” production of the construction industry is expected to decrease by 1.4 per cent in 2001, and grow by only one per cent in 2002, increasing slightly to 1.7 per cent in 2003. Construction GDP is expected to climb to 3.1 per cent in 2004 and 2.8 per cent in 2006, much lower than the 14 per cent gross output achieved in 2001.

     These figures will vary from province to province. In Newfoundland, the construction GDP is expected to rise to 82 per cent between 2001 and 2005, given the expected boom from new construction at Voisey’s Bay and other major projects. Alberta, which has experienced a strong construction market for several years, it is expected, will experience negative GDP growth between 2002 and 2005.

     Employment figures will most likely follow this trend. Despite a 6.3 per cent employment growth in 2001, growth rates will decrease to only 0.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent for 2002 and 2003, respectively. By 2004, however, as the construction market gets back to business, employment growth is expected to increase to 3.2 per cent.