Regional employment statistics:

• A total of 29,170 job openings are expected in the region till 2020. Among them, 4,490 are expected to be new jobs due to economic expansion. 
• The year-to-date unemployment rate of 5.2 % (as of February 2013) is lower than the same time last year at 7.5%.

Region-specific activities under the BC Jobs Plan include:

To align infrastructure with the needs of key industries, including liquefied natural gas, CN invested $12 million in its Locomotive Reliability Centre in Prince George to support increased train traffic in northern British Columbia.

The Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Mine, near Prince George, is expected to begin production in the second half of 2013, while the Bonanza Ledge Gold Mine near Barkerville will soon move forward with construction. The Province has also approved a major expansion of the Gibraltar Copper-Molybdenum Mine near Williams Lake.

Post-secondary institutions in the Cariboo continue to make advances in international education:

• During the Province's trade mission to China and India in November 2011, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) signed an agreement with a university in Shanghai, China. The same month, UNBC created its first joint international degree program, a collaborative master's degree in Environmental Science and Engineering, with Shanghai.
• Since September 2011, the College of the New Caledonia has signed over 14 partnership agreements with post-secondary institutions in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Japan, Chile, Scotland, Vietnam, Suriname, Guyana, the Philippines, and China. The College has also developed two new study abroad/volunteer partnerships with Developing World Connections and Projects Abroad.
• In September 2012, the College of the New Caledonia launched a new 2-year post-diploma in information technologies (PDIT), aimed at recruiting international students with at least two years' post-secondary education in information technologies or computer science.  The first two intakes for this program were all students from India, all of whom had a three-year bachelor's degree in a related discipline.  This post-diploma combines theory and hands-on laboratory teaching in the field of computer networking, along with a 160-hour internship with local employers. 

The Province has reached agreements with First Nations to provide certainty for investors and more opportunities for Aboriginal communities and families. This includes:

• Strategic Land Use Planning Agreement with Ulkatcho First Nation for their portion of territory that is within the Great Bear Rainforest.
• Nazko Incremental Treaty Agreement between the B.C. government and Nazko First Nation will expand economic development and job creation opportunities, and provide benefits to the First Nation in advance of a final treaty agreement.

A network of seven education marketing managers are now in place in British Columbia's trade and investment offices in China, India, Korea, and Japan, with additional positions engaged on the international education file in B.C.'s United States and European Union offices.

• This network supports the international education sector by promoting B.C.'s competitive advantages to potential students, identifying and co-ordinating partnerships between B.C. institutions and international organizations, and participating in missions and trade shows.
• The education marketing managers visited B.C. educational institutions throughout the province this spring as part of an orientation tour. Co-ordinated by the British Columbia Council for International Education, the week-long mission included school visits and roundtables involving the University of Northern BC, College of New Caledonia and Cariboo and Prince George school districts.

British Columbia's trade and investment representatives from key international markets have made a series of visits and tours throughout the province.

• These road shows allow the international representatives, who are based in priority markets throughout Asia, Europe and the United States, to build partnerships and relationships with B.C. businesses and communities in key regions and sectors, including natural gas, mining, biomass and technology.
• During the summer 2012 road show, trade and investment representatives took part in the International Bioenergy Conference in Prince George and participated in meetings and site visits in the Cariboo region.

A series of workshops for local leaders have been tailor-made to provide participants with training related to a full range of economic development activities in their communities, including attracting investment and supporting new and existing ventures.

• The workshops are designed for elected local government and First Nation officials and their staff.
• A local leaders workshop, facilitated by the Economic Development Association of B.C., was held in 100 Mile House in March of 2013; a Prince George workshop is scheduled for late April.

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 387-2799