Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 construction industry has gone into a deep slump, says the CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association.

Greg Baynton said the number of large projects now being bid upon by construction companies has dropped B次元官网网址�180 degreesB次元官网网址� in the past couple of months -- from 50 industrial, institutional, and multi-family housing projects every week to B次元官网网址渓ess than 20 nowB次元官网网址� and well off the normal average of 35 projects weekly.

And he doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect conditions to change for at least a couple of months, if not longer.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e operating at about half of normal,B次元官网网址� Baynton said of projects that range in value from $200,000 to $100 million and higher.

The sudden slowdown also affects other industries such as the building suppliers and trucking companies, he said.

After a busy spring and summer, Baynton said the downturn comes as a shock to his 550-member companies which account for about 90 per cent of the IslandB次元官网网址檚 construction and employs between 7,500 and 15,000 workers.

Baynton said uncertain international economic conditions, especially in the Europe, are having a significant negative impact on investors and the construction industry confidence expectations, causing them to cut back plans and layoff workers in the expectation of a possible global recession.

However, he said B.C. is perfectly placed to avoid most of the downside and reap huge benefits if economic conditions remain calm or expand.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of light at the end of the tunnel,B次元官网网址� he said, urging contractors to show courage and confidence B次元官网网址渄espite the instabiliiyB次元官网网址� and plan for a healthy future rather than retreat.

His optimism is the reason the construction association sponsored the Island Outlook 2012: Economic and Labour Forecast at the Union Club on Tuesday featuring two speakers who see nothing but hope for the Island construction and resource industries.

Economic forecaster specializing in the construction industry Mark Casaletto, vice president of Reed Construction Data, said the future isnB次元官网网址檛 all doom and gloom.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of noise about economic changes but B.C.B次元官网网址檚 construction industry should be excited,B次元官网网址� ;he said citing a Price Waterhouse Cooper study that predicts Canada, especially Western Canada, will become a world leader in construction in less than 10 years -- moving from 10th in the world to fourth, behind the U.S., China and India.

However, most of the construction wonB次元官网网址檛 be happening in downtown Vancouver or Victoria and much of it take place in suburban and rural areas, he said.

There will be less office and retail construction more building of towns and infrastructure in remote areas, said Casaletto, warning B次元官网网址渄evelopers and contractors have to realize weB次元官网网址檙e no in a typical construction cycle and understand the dynamic shifts of the economy.B次元官网网址�

His views were echoed by Ryan Berlin, an Urban Futures Institute director, who waved a labour forecast crystal ball that said the future points to labour force tensions as baby boomers retire in large numbers.

This means the construction industry has to increase efforts to train new workers, capture new immigrant workers and retain older workers,B次元官网网址� he said.

Baynton agreed with the assessment of both men, adding: B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 ignore the impact of rapid change in our industry and contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers and developers need this information to not only survive, but thrive.B次元官网网址�