Beginning in Richmond today, 'BC Jobs Start Here' job fairs will travel to 24 communities throughout the province, connecting job seekers face-to-face with potential employers, Premier Christy Clark announced.

Exhibitors at each fair will include select employers from a range of sectors, as well as post-secondary institutions, industry associations, training authorities, and the health authorities.

The interactive 'BC Jobs Start Here' mobile exhibit, which toured the province this summer, will also be on hand to provide information about skills training, employment services, job banks and career development tools.

Over the next ten years, there will be over one million job openings in British Columbia, including more than 350,000 new jobs, which will result in a shortage of skilled labour - particularly in the trades. This free event invites members of the public to come and meet local employers and get more information on career development and skills training in B.C.

'BC Jobs Start Here' jobs fairs provide opportunities for job seekers, and are organized as part of 'Canada Starts Here: the BC Jobs Plan'. The BC Jobs Plan promotes economic development and job growth throughout B.C.

Quotes:

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Pat Bell -

"Across B.C., new investment has been creating new jobs, so the demand for skilled employees is strong and will only get stronger. The 'BC Jobs Start Here' job fairs are helping employers find the right person for the right job - the key to B.C.'s economic success in the years ahead."

Minister of Social Development, Dr. Moira Stilwell -

"As more and more investment comes to our province, the number of opportunities for British Columbians continues to grow. The 'BC Jobs Start Here' job fairs can connect British Columbians with those opportunities, putting them face-to-face with potential employers."

Quick Facts:

• Statistics Canada's most recent jobs numbers show a growth of 51,700 jobs between August 2011 and August 2012, putting B.C. in first place for job growth in Canada.
• B.C.'s unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 per cent, positioning B.C. below the national average (7.3 per cent) and the fourth-lowest in the country.
• The provincial economy measured by real GDP grew by 2.9 per cent in 2011, according to the 2011-12 Public Accounts, third in Canada.
• The estimated investment for all major projects currently under construction - projects ranging from shipbuilding to natural gas, mining to manufacturing and transportation to commercial/residential development - is approximately $80 billion, an increase of $11.7 billion since June 2011.
• $48 billion is projected to be invested in liquefied natural gas (LNG) alone between 2013 and 2022.
• The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training currently offers seven online tools: WorkBC, Job Trend Tracker, Career Explorers, Career Pathfinder, Career Trek BC, Build a Career, and Boss Yourself BC.
• The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training also oversees delivery of JobFest, a rock concert-themed mobile event that is designed to get youth and young adults excited about their futures, while teaching them about the various tools and resources government has developed to support them in their quest to find their perfect career.

Learn More:

BC Jobs Start Here job fairs - community: www.bcjobsplan.ca

WorkBC: www.workbc.ca

JobFest 2012: http://jobfest2012.ca/

A job fair schedule follows.

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 356-8177

JOB FAIR SCHEDULE

Job fairs will take place from 12 noon to 7 p.m. in the following communities:

Richmond - Sept. 18, 2012

Abbotsford - Sept. 21, 2012

Burnaby - Nov. 26, 2012

Burns Lake - Nov. 13, 2012

Chilliwack - Oct. 16, 2012

Coquitlam - Nov. 28, 2012

Courtenay/Comox - Oct. 3, 2012

Cranbrook - Oct. 19, 2012

Fort St. John - Nov. 9, 2012

Gibsons - Oct. 5, 2012

Kamloops - Oct. 30, 2012

Kelowna - Oct. 23, 2012

Maple Ridge - Oct. 12, 2012

Nanaimo - Sept. 28, 2012

Penticton - Nov. 20, 2012

Port Alberni - Oct. 1, 2012

Prince George - Nov. 6, 2012

Richmond - Sept. 18, 2012

Salmon Arm - Oct. 26, 2012

Squamish - Oct. 9, 2012

Surrey - Nov. 23, 2012

Terrace - Nov. 16, 2012

Vancouver - Nov. 30, 2012

Sept. 25, 2012

Williams Lake - Nov. 2, 2012

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 356-8177