Key Sectors

Construction

Prince George's construction industry is one of the main drivers in the development of new projects that are planned or underway in northern British Columbia. These projects involve contracts with local firms and support a large workforce to help deliver and build modern and innovative infrastructure.

Residential real estate is a significant contributor to the local economy and is a leading economic indicator. Construction generated $408 million in GDP for Prince George in 2018.

Construction at a glance

- Expand the knowledge base of industries, leading to more collaboration and competition that breeds innovation, specialization, and expertise.
- Attract foreign direct investment by creating more focused marketing on specific industries.
- Clustering helps firms grow faster, increases their recognition, and establishes them in the market.
- Workforce attraction and retention. Clusters consolidate and highlight opportunities available in industry.
- In 2018, 4,800 people were employed in construction and that number is expected to grow by one per cent in 2020.
- Construction sector GDP is expected to grow from $408 million in 2018 to $426 million in 2020.
- Prince George's construction industry grew on average by 4.8 per cent annually between 2013 and 2018.
- Workers broke ground on 427 new homes in 2017, which was the highest level of housing starts since 1996.
- More than 38,000 trade students graduate from the College of New Caledonia every year.
- Access to large core industries such as lumber, steel, asphalt, and concrete.
- Natural resource, business, and tourism developments result in high demand for construction in Prince George.
- Prince George has a diverse construction industry (design and build subcontractors).
- Proposed $195 billion funding for major project capital expenditures in Central and Northern B.C., which accounts for over 60 per cent of all major capital expenditures in B.C.
- Wood design and innovation.
- Workforce education and training.
- Manufacturing.
- Transportation and logistics.
- Equipment rental, storage, and maintenance.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is one of the largest economic sectors in Prince George and part of a fully-developed supply chain for natural resource projects. The sector complements growing mining, energy, and bioenergy industries in Prince George and has resulted in demand for some of the following:

Metal products
Industrial chemicals
Custom and specialized fabrication products
Plastic goods
Machinery

Manufacturing at a glance

- Expand knowledge base of industries, leading to more collaboration and competition that breeds innovation, specialization, and expertise.
- Attract foreign direct investment by creating more focused marketing on specific industries.
- Clustering helps firms grow faster, increases their recognition, and establishes them in the market.
- Workforce attraction and retention. Clusters consolidate and highlight opportunities available in industry.
- A highly skilled workforce which includes experienced millwrights, welders, machinists, and fabricators as well as people trained in computer numerical control technology and innovative techniques.
- The College of New Caledonia provides Red Seal trades training in welding, machining, millwrighting, carpentry, power engineering, and more.
- The University of Northern British Columbia, with an annual enrolment of over 3,500 students, offers programs in business, finance, human resources, marketing, engineering, and computer sciences that complement the manufacturing sector.
- Transportation depots
- Truck terminals
- Warehousing and storage
- Freight forwarding
- Distribution centres
- Retail and supply support

Forestry

Manufacturing and forestry are among the largest economic drivers in Prince George with nearly half of the labour force directly or indirectly employed in those industries. The city is home to seven lumber mills, three pulp mills, one paper mill, and multiple secondary manufacturing facilities.

Industry clusters developing from primary forestry manufacturing include remanufactured lumber, engineered wood products, packaged building solutions, millwork products, and more. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturing in Prince George, in particular, offers an opportunity for investment.

Forestry at a glance

- Expand the knowledge base of industries, leading to more collaboration and competition that breeds innovation, specialization, and expertise.
- Attract foreign direct investment by creating more focused marketing on specific industries.
- Clustering helps firms grow faster, increases their recognition, and establishes them in the market.
- Workforce attraction and retention. Clusters consolidate and highlight opportunities available in industry.
- Established markets in North America and Asia.
- Complete supply chain.
- Production of 580,000 tonnes of pellets and 140,000 tonnes of paper annually.
- Expanded lumber transload capacity to over 30,000 containers annually.
- Skilled, experienced workforce.
- The shortest route between Shanghai and Chicago.
- Large core industries with over 15 firms that have at least 50 employees each.
- Cross Laminated Timber manufacturing.
- Laminated Veneer Lumber manufacturing.
- Parallel Strand Lumber manufacturing.

Professional services

Prince George's diversified economy supplies professional services to a variety of sectors. Employment in professional, scientific, and technical services has expanded over the last five years to meet the local and regional needs.

Professional services at a glance

- Expand the knowledge base of industries, leading to more collaboration and competition that breeds innovation, specialization, and expertise.
- Attract foreign direct investment by creating more focused marketing on specific industries.
- Clustering helps firms grow faster, increases their recognition, and establishes them in the market.
- Workforce attraction and retention. Clusters consolidate and highlight opportunities available in industry.
- Prince George's workforce has talent and experience in environmental sciences closely related to serving the forestry industry.
- The local population is younger than the national and provincial average and represents a base to support future growth.
- Data centres
- Architectural services
- Engineering and consulting services
- Workforce, education, and training

Transportation and warehousing

Prince George is strategically located at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers and its network of road, rail, air, and marine infrastructure connects northern B.C. businesses to the rest of the world.

The city's well-developed transportation network supports local resource-based projects and businesses and possesses enough capacity to accommodate future industries looking to do business in Prince George and around the globe.

Transportation and warehousing at a glance

- Expand the knowledge base of industries, leading to more collaboration and competition that breeds innovation, specialization, and expertise.
- Attract foreign direct investment by creating more focused marketing on specific industries.
- Clustering helps firms grow faster, increases their recognition, and establishes them in the market.
- Workforce attraction and retention. Clusters consolidate and highlight opportunities available in industry.
- 20% of Prince George's workforce are employed in the Trades/Transport industry.
- $382 million is proposed for the Prince George Global Logistics Park.
- The city is located at the nexus Highways 16 and 97.
- A transportation labour pool of approximately 22,000 surrounds Prince George.
Developments like the Prince George International Airport, the Global Logistics Park, and our strategic location at the intersections of Provincial Highways 16 and 97 bring the world to Prince George's doorsteps and vice versa. Other assets that drive our competitive position as a logistics hub include:
- Location of the CN intermodal terminal.
- Home to nine industrial parks ranging from light to heavy.
- Access to the Ports of Prince Rupert and Metro Vancouver.
- The shortest route between Shanghai and Chicago.
Our city is suited for businesses and developments looking to take advantage of international and domestic trade including, but not limited to:
- Transportation depots
- Truck terminals
- Warehousing and storage
- Freight forwarding
- Distribution centres
- Retail and supply support