The Kootenay Regional Workforce Table has completed a skills training plan that will help ensure communities in the region have skilled workers to fill both current and future jobs.

The Kootenay Regional Workforce Table (RWT) is the third in B.C. to create a region-led plan by bringing together key leaders from industry, employers, labour, First Nations, training service providers, economic development organizations, educators and others to identify key opportunities in the region and the training needed to address them.

The Kootenay skills training plan is available on the College of the Rockies website: http://www.cotr.bc.ca/docs/KootenayRegionalSkillsTrainingPlan.pdf

The Kootenay regional skills training plan focuses on aligning existing training programs to local jobs. This will help people in the region take advantage of the significant economic development opportunities that exist in B.C.

As part of this work, the regional workforce tables conducted a review and analysis of regional labour market demand and supply, local training opportunities and potential gaps in regional training. They also gathered input from a broad cross-section of regional sector groups and communities to help develop the plans.

Key training priorities for the region include:

• Strengthening and building regional industry, education and community collaboration.

• Enhancing training related to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

• Helping lower-skilled people upgrade and improve their skills.

• Continuing to ensure that local training is aligned to workforce needs.

Regional workforce tables were established as a commitment under the BC Jobs Plan. The Northwest and Northeast RWTs posted their reports in January 2013.

More information on the workforce tables is available at: www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/regionalworkforcetables/

Funding to support the tables has been provided through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.

Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799
Donna Kraus-Hagerman

Executive Director
College Relations and Marketing
College of the Rockies
250 489-8258