Construction Statistics

Employment Statistics

All Alberta
Labour Force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment
Construction Employment (CE)
CE Yearly Change
(000's)
(000's)
(000's)
(%)
(000's)
(%)

May-08
2,083.6
2,007.7
75.9
3.6
202.5
3.9
Apr-08
2,076.5
2,008.1
68.5
3.3
195.6
4.0
Mar-08
2,075.9
2,004.5
71.4
3.4
196.8
3.4
Source: Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Labour Force Statistics Package, May 2008-March 2008

Regional Unemployment Rates

Wood-Buffalo
Cold Lake
Athabasca
Grande Prairie
Edmonton
Region
Red Deer
Region
Banff-Jasper
RMH
Calgary
Region
Camrose
Drumheller
Lethbridge
Medicine Hat
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
May-08
3.1
4.8
3.8
4.1
3.3
3.0
2.5
3.4
Apr-08
2.7
4.3
3.7
3.9
3.0
2.9
2.7
4.4
Mar-08
3.0
4.1
3.8
3.5
3.0
3.0
2.9
5.0
Source: Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, Labour Force Statistics Package, May 2008-March 2008

Industrial Construction Projects Graph

Industrial Construction Projects Graph

Source: Construction Owners Association of Alberta

Housing Costs - Single Family Dwelling

City
Average Price
Median Price
Apr 2008
Apr 2007
Apr 2008
Apr 2007
Calgary
$433,470
$441,386
$381,000
$392,000
Edmonton
$383,167
$426,028
$365,000
$400,000
Source: Calgary Real Estate Board June 2008, Edmonton Real Estate Board, June 2008

Inventory of Major Alberta Projects

As of April 2008 the total amount was $266,921.3 million.

For more information, visit Major Alberta Projects

Source: Government of Alberta, Inventory of Major Alberta Projects, May 2008

Commodity Prices

Price
% Change From
Commodity Measurement Units
As of May 31, 08
Average YTD 2007
Price One Month Ago
Price One Year Ago
Aluminum
LME, US¢/lb
313.41
127.26
0.3
5.6
Copper
LME, US¢/lb
371.55
365.54
-5.2
10.8
Gold
US$/oz
894.5
913.6
2.9
35.6
Nickel
LME, US$/lb
10.2
12.78
-21.1
-55.7
Oil
West Tex. Interm. US$/barrel
128.47
106.34
11.4
100.9
Silver
New York, US$/troy oz
17.14
17.44
2.9
35.6
Zinc
LME, US¢/lb
93.08
106.13
-7.1
-43.8
Note: London Metal Exchange = LME
Source: TD Bank Financial Group TD Economics, Weekly Commodity Price Report, June 6, 2008

Chartered Bank Administered Interest Rate

Monthly Prime Business Rate - 4.75% for May 2008

Source: Bank of Canada, June, 2008

Merit Contractors Association Statistics

Month
Number of hours
Total to end of year
Number of Employees in the Benefit Plan
Change in Hours From One Year Ago YTD
Annual % Growth in Hours YTD
% Growth Change from One Year Ago
Apr-08
5,870,413
22,506,562
35,362
2,200,843
9.8
13.7
Mar-08
6,150,108
16,636,149
35,214
1,397,110
8.4
7.6
Feb-08
5,867,031
10,486,041
35,417
927,320
8.8
14.6


Surveys

Merit conducts several surveys each year. For more information about the following surveys, click one of the following links to view a press release.

January 2008 Wage and Benefit Survey

May 2008 Heavy Construction/Roadbuilders Survey



Merit Contractors Association

Merit Contractors Association (www.meritalberta.com) is an Alberta-based not-for-profit association comprised over 1,400 contractor member firms that employ over 40,000 people in commercial, institutional, and industrial construction sectors. The Association runs a Construction Boot Camp, helping those with little or no experience gain first-hand experience in the construction industry to start their paths to becoming apprentices. Merit also provides the industry's largest free on-line recruitment website at www.constructionjobstores.com

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