About 25 business members came out to the workforce skills shortage workshop in Sechelt May 17 to talk about the huge shortage of workers for trade industries in B.C. and what can be done locally to train, recruit and retain employees in these fields.
"We need your help to try to come up with a strategy to find some options and a Sunshine Coast solution," said Al Mulholland, moderator and executive director of Community Futures Development Corporation of the Sunshine Coast.
He gave statistics that show there will be one million new job opportunities in trades in B.C. between now and 2015.
"But we don't have one million people to fill those positions. We have about 650,000 graduating so that's a big gap," Mulholland noted.
The issue is compounded by the estimated 600,000 baby boomers in B.C. leaving the workforce in the next six years and the lure of job opportunities in Alberta.
"Much of our skilled labour has been sucked into Alberta in the last five to 10 years," he said.He noted that business is booming in B.C. as well, and specifically on the Coast.
"You can't even talk to contractors here on the Coast because they are going full blast all the time and they are in need of more skilled labourers our graduates don't have to leave the Coast. There is work here. We just need to show them there are career opportunities and good jobs right here on the Sunshine Coast," Mulholland said.
There are jobs, but lack of training options for these trade positions can drive students off Coast. That's something the provincial government and Capilano College are trying to change.
The government has set up tax breaks for those involved in trades programs, and in 2004 they set up the Industry Training Authority (ITA) which is legislated to govern and develop the industry training system in B.C.
Through the ITA there have been high school trades programs set up, and in March, $1.5 million was allocated to acquire a mobile training unit for rural and Aboriginal communities in B.C.The ITA plans to purchase a large, expandable semi-trailer unit that can be moved between communities, offering a new choice for those who are interested in entering the trades or current apprentices needing to continue their training.
Capilano College is also front and centre addressing the need for trades training. They have a construction trades entry program now available that was developed with local construction groups and the school district. And they are looking at ways to offer more programs in the future.
Training alone will not solve the skills shortage problem, said Benton Mischuk, manager, strategic economic initiatives with the provincial Ministry of Economic Development.
Even with a local influx of people into trades programs and positions, there will still be too many openings in B.C. to fill.
"One of the things we are doing is the Provincial Nominee Program, which seeks out immigrant workers who are qualified for specific positions. It's a good program because Canada is a desirable place to live and work," Mischuk said.
Last year the province brought in over 44,000 immigrant workers to British Columbia for various sectors like trades and the medical profession.
He says the Provincial Nominee Program is essential to keeping B.C.'s booming sectors active and notes these workers come with years of experience and are able to mentor new trades people.
At the end of the four-hour workshop, attendees had a clearer picture of B.C.'s need for more trades people, and Mulholland stressed the need for a local plan to gain, train and retain skilled workers.
"We have been gathering data and statistics for some time now, and that part is over. By this fall we hope to have a plan in place and we will move forward with the next steps. We hope all of you will get involved in this issue," he said.
For more information about the workshop, contact Community Futures at 604-885-1959.
