← ReplyFirst Blog
BC's trades labour shortage: why you can't afford to miss a call
When you can't hire fast enough, the work you already win is the work that counts.
The bottom line: BC is on track for 72,070 skilled-trades job openings over the next decade (WorkBC), and you can't hire your way out of that quickly. So the work you already win matters more than ever, and a missed call is a job handed to a competitor who's just as short-staffed as you. Answering every call is the cheapest growth lever you've got.
How bad is the BC trades shortage?
A labour shortage just means there's more work than there are people to do it, and BC's trades have it bad. The province's own forecast counts 72,070 openings across 15 skilled trades over ten years, part of more than a million job openings across all sectors by 2035 (WorkBC). For instance, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs all sit near the top of that demand list. Meanwhile, the government is putting $241 million into trades training to close the gap (HR Reporter). However, training an apprentice takes years. As a result, for most shops, the crew you've got today is the crew you've got.
Short-staffed and the phone's still ringing, that's the squeeze.What does that have to do with the phone?
Everything. When you can't hire fast enough, the jobs you already win have to count, because you can't just post a position to replace a lost one. There's nobody to post for. Meanwhile, the customer won't wait: about 67% of callers won't leave a voicemail, and 34% ring a competitor on the spot (NewVoiceMedia). So you and that competitor are both short-handed. Still, only one of you picked up the phone.
Can't I just hire a receptionist?
You can, but that's the same problem one room over. Hiring is slow, and a wage is a fixed cost whether the phone rings or not. By comparison, an AI receptionist sidesteps the hiring market entirely: it answers every call for a flat rate near $120 a month, with no job posting and no training. For the fuller trade-off, see AI vs a human receptionist.
What should a short-staffed shop do first?
Plug the leak before chasing more leads. You're already paying to generate calls, so losing them after hours is the most expensive mistake on the board. In practice, that means switching on after-hours and overflow answering first, then worrying about more marketing. Start with after-hours coverage or see how it works for your trade.
Can't hire? Don't lose the work you've already won. Hear it answer in 30 seconds.
Common questions
- Is the trades shortage really that big in BC?
- Yes. WorkBC's 2025 outlook projects 72,070 openings in 15 skilled trades over ten years ([WorkBC](https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/top-demand-trades)), and over a million openings across all sectors. Demand is outpacing the people available to fill it.
- How does answering calls help with a labour shortage?
- It protects the revenue you already have. You can't quickly hire to replace lost jobs, so capturing every call, especially after hours, is the cheapest way to grow without adding headcount.
- Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring?
- Far cheaper, and immediate. A wage plus benefits runs thousands a month and takes weeks to fill. An AI receptionist is a flat fee near $120 and goes live in days.
See ReplyFirst pricing →