A new provincial government report predicts the number of skilled workers needed will exceed the supply of workers available by 2016.

The second annual Labour Market Outlook 2010-2020 report anticipates the Northeast will have the highest annual growth in demand for workers, followed by the Mainland/Southwest, and North Coast and Nechako.

One million job openings are expected in B.C. by 2020. One-third of the jobs available will result from the province's economic growth, while two-thirds are spurred on by retirements and the aging workforce.

The largest numbers of job openings are anticipated in the areas of: sales and service, business, and trades and equipment operators. The health occupation group is expected to have the largest percentage increase in demand growth.

The report predicts that post-secondary education will be important. Approximately 78 per cent of job openings over the next decade will require some post-secondary education and training or a university degree.

Responding to the increasing need for skilled workers in B.C., the government is investing over $470 million in jobs training and skills development programs this year. The government has also developed Skills for Growth, a labour market strategy to ensure that workforce skills in British Columbia match and meet the economic needs of the Province.

The priorities of the Skills for Growth strategy are:

• To increase the skill level and market success of British Columbians, with an emphasis of increasing skills levels of those already in the work force, and teaching new skills to people who are not currently working.
• To attract skilled workers and job-creating entrepreneurs through programs such as the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program.
• To improve workplace productivity.

As well, the Ministry of Social Development's employment programs have helped over 73,000 people on income assistance get jobs since 2001. The ministry is improving its job training programs by opening new employment centres in the spring of 2012 to make it easier for people to find work and provide stability for their families.

Quick Facts:

• Over one million job openings are expected in B.C. by 2020.
• Close to two-thirds of these openings will be due to retirements and aging workforce.
• One-third of job openings will be new jobs due to economic growth.
• New migrants to B.C. are expected to fill one-third of job openings to 2020.
• Approximately 78 per cent of job openings over the next decade will require some post-secondary education and training or a university degree.

Learn More:

Labour Market Outlook - 2010-2020 Report: http://www.workbc.ca/docs/BCLMOutlook.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Marc Black
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-0613

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. Labour Market Outlook - 2010-2020

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook - 2010-2020 was prepared in partnership with BC Stats and the Ministry of Finance. It provides labour market demand and supply projections for B.C. and its regions for the period of 2010 to 2020.

Key Findings:

• 1,027,400 job openings are projected for B.C. over the next ten years.
• Tight labour market conditions, with demand exceeding supply are projected provincewide by 2016.
• The largest number of job openings over the next 10 years is projected for the Mainland/Southwest (666,300 job openings), followed by Vancouver Island/Coast (152,600 job openings), and Thompson Okanagan (110,300 job openings). Other regions will account for 10 per cent of projected job openings.

Occupation groups with the greatest number of job openings (new jobs and replacing retiring workers) are:

• Sales and service occupations - 224,600 jobs (e.g., retail sales, child care and home support workers, chefs and cooks, food and beverage service).
• Business, Finance and Administrative occupations- 182,000 jobs. (e.g., clerical occupations, administrative officers, accountants).
• Trades, transport and equipment operators - 153,300 jobs. (e.g., motor vehicle and transit drivers, automotive service technicians, electrical trades).

Occupation groups with expected to have the strongest percentage growth in demand (new job growth) are:

• Health occupations. Primarily due to aging population and increasing health-care requirements. (e.g., doctors, nurses, medical technologists and technicians, physiotherapists). Annual growth of 2.4 per cent.
• Natural and applied sciences and related occupations. (e.g., chemists, geologists, architects, urban planners, computer and information systems professionals, technical occupations in architecture, surveying and mapping). Annual growth of 1.6 per cent.
• Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport (e.g., graphic arts technicians, graphic designers, program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness). Annual growth of 1.6 per cent.

Skilled Trades

• The demand for the trades is expected to surpass supply starting in 2016.
• The increase in demand for the trades (33,900) is expected to outpace the increase in their labour supply (26,600) by 7,300 workers over the outlook period.
• The 10-year total job openings for the trades is forecast to be 104,600, including 70,800 or 68 per cent due to the need to replace retiring workers.

Regional Labour Demand

• Among the regions, the Northeast will have the highest annual growth in demand for workers (1.7 per cent), followed by Mainland/Southwest (1.6 per cent) and North Coast and Nechako (1.3 per cent).
• The demand growth in the Northeast region will be impacted by planned major construction projects, such as the proposed Peace River hydro electric project.
• In the Mainland/Southwest, transportation projects will partially drive the region's above-average growth in demand for workers.
• In the North Coast and Nechako region, nine construction projects worth a total of more than $15 billion will play a major role in driving labour demand.
• In 2011, labour shortages in the Cariboo will be partially due to investment of $917 million for the Mount Milligan Copper-Gold mine northwest of Prince George.
• In the Vancouver Island/Coast region, the construction of a number of planned utility projects will help increase the overall labour demand beginning in 2012.
• In all regions of B.C., the demand for workers is expected to increase at a higher rate than the labour force, leading to tightening labour market conditions over the next decade.

Media Contact:

Marc Black
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-0613