Representatives from the tourism sector met with the federal and provincial government today to discuss skilled labour initiatives and human resource planning, as part of a series of roundtables being held over coming months with all sectors highlighted in the BC Jobs Plan.

The roundtables, co-hosted with industry associations and employers, aim to stimulate discussion and create awareness about how sectors can access skilled labour and satisfy human resource requirements, as a result of demographic changes and an aging population. These demographic realities - together with economic growth - place significant pressure on key sectors to find innovative solutions to address skills shortages.

Participants were invited to share information and engage in discussions about labour supply and demand, immigration, pathways to citizenship, education, skills training, and employer supports, including supports for Aboriginal people.

This initiative is another way government is working to provide employers and industry the opportunity to ask and respond to questions, and inform the provincial and federal governments of key labour issues.

As a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan, tourism is an important economic driver in the province. B.C.’s tourism sector is strong and growing - which is good news in light of fierce global competition for tourists. In addition, tourism’s contribution to the provincial economy (GDP) grew to $7.3 billion in 2013 - up 44.3% from 10 years ago.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

“Through continual dialogue and sharing of ideas, we are working to address the shifting needs of B.C.’s labour market. This roundtable will provide an excellent forum to engage in conversations and take a closer look at how our government as well as industry can continue to partner to meet employers’ labour market needs.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business -

“Tourism is an important economic driver and is one of B.C.’s top job creating industries. It’s important to check in with representatives from the 19,200 tourism-related businesses in B.C. - of which over 90% are small businesses - and explore innovative ways to ensure the sector has access to the skilled labour it needs now and in the future.”

Arlene Keis, chief executive officer, Go2HR -

“The tourism and hospitality industry is a key sector for the economy in British Columbia. It is critical that we plan carefully, to ensure there are enough workers with the right skills in the right communities to meet the demand and deliver the remarkable experiences our visitors expect. We commend the ministry for bringing stakeholders to this roundtable to discuss labour challenges and we look forward to working together to find solutions.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. is reaching a tipping point where more people are leaving the workforce than people entering it. That is why we are taking action now to address this rapidly changing labour market.
• We are seeing significant growth in the sector: in 2014 we had a 5.3% increase in international visitors - almost a quarter of a million more people.
• In 2013, the tourism sector employed 132,200 British Columbians, that’s about 1 in every 15 jobs in B.C.
• In 2013, tourism paid $4.5 billion in wages and generated $13.9 billion in revenues.

Learn More:

For more information on B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, visit: www.workbc.ca/skills

To find out more about the BC Jobs Plan, visit: www.engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/

Provincial Tourism Strategy “Gaining the Edge”: http://ow.ly/PfZvA

Go2HR - B.C.’s tourism and hospitality: https://www.go2hr.ca/

Media Contacts:

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