The workforce at Site C dam fell to 4,476 workers in December as construction entered the winter season, according to the latest employment figures from BC Hydro.
The jobs count was down 762 workers from November, and down from a record 5,554 workers counted at the $16-billion project in October.
Of the total December workforce, just over 17% were local, with 788 Peace region residents employed by construction and non-construction contractors.
There were 3,088 B.C. residents, or 69% of the workforce, working for construction and non-construction contractors, and in engineering and project team jobs, according to the report.
BC Hydro reported 166 apprentices for the month, down from 197 in November, as well as 312 indigenous workers and 459 women working on the project.
There were no temporary foreign workers employed in a specialized position, according to BC Hydro, with 28 managers and other professionals working under the federal international mobility program.
The last of six turbine runners built for the dam arrived on site earlier this month, with the first unit already installed in the powerhouse
Construction of the earthfill dam is now around 90% complete, and the project more than 70% built overall.
Earlier this month, BC Hydro president Chris O’Riley told the BC Natural Resource Forum that the official target for commissioning is still nearly two years away.
However, he suggested the company could potentially generate first power in December of this year.
