With clothing and footwear sold around the globe, British Columbia’s apparel manufacturers have a strong reputation for producing high-quality brands.

To keep the industry strong and growing, apparel manufacturers throughout the province are partnering together to help address skills gaps and labour market challenges within the sector.

The BC Jobs Plan 4-Year Progress Update, released Dec. 7, 2015, identified the apparel manufacturing sector as an area of B.C.’s economy that is poised for strong growth over the next decade, with the potential to almost double current levels of employment.

The Apparel Manufacturers Sector Engagement Project is a partnership that will bring together apparel employers and associations committed to addressing common workforce challenges in the manufacturing sector. It is the first phase of a broader initiative to help ensure that British Columbia has the skilled workforce for the manufacturing jobs of the future.

The project is part of the Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program, funded through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA). Under the agreement, the B.C. government has committed $30,400 to the project partners to identify common labour-market challenges.

Some of the unique challenges that the apparel manufacturing sector faces include:

• attracting key executive and technical talent;
• ensuring technical skills, such as industrial design and textile science are available;
• developing an integrated supply chain with more local links; and
• building on B.C.’s global brand.

The B.C. Apparel Manufacturers Sector Engagement Project partners include more than 90 companies as well as the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

The Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program ensures that government funding and programs for training are aligned with industry feedback, providing a valuable tool for businesses. This year, close to 20 Sector LMP Projects have been active around the province. Seven new projects have been implemented in the last five months.

Sectors currently working on Sector LMP projects include: tourism, manufacturing, construction, technology and the green economy, as well as projects that relate to the labour-market participation of Aboriginal peoples.

Quotes:

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

“The B.C. apparel sector is one area of our provincial economy that is seeing considerable growth, generating thousands of jobs and exporting billions of dollars in goods each year to countries around the world. This is one of the new areas highlighted in the BC Jobs Plan 4-Year Update that is helping to keep our province diverse, strong and growing. We will continue to work with our industry partners to identify and address their labour challenges, so we can develop an even stronger apparel sector in B.C.”

Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan –

“Ensuring that B.C. industries like the apparel sector have the workforce they need now and in the future is a priority for our government. We will continue to engage industry partners by listening to and addressing their concerns on labour supply and demand.” 

“This project is a great example of government-industry collaboration and a positive example of what industry partners can achieve when they work together to build an even stronger industry for the future.”

Marcus Ewert-Johns, vice-president, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters –

“The apparel sector has seen incredible growth over the last five years. Greater Vancouver is emerging as a significant value-creation centre for apparel design and manufacturing. Industry and government are collaborating closely to ensure the sector continues to grow.”

“As Canada’s largest and oldest trade-and-industry association, we are proud to support the industry to build effective linkages with government and work with post-secondary partners to address common competitiveness challenges. The Labour Market Partnership will help create and fill many more amazing jobs in B.C.”

Vincent Wauters, president and general manager, Arc’teryx Apparel –

“B.C. is the becoming one of the very top apparel design business hubs in North America. We share with our peers based in Vancouver a very strong national and international growth.”

“Arc'teryx is now sold in 40 countries with 85% of the sales done across the U.S.A., Europe and Asia Pacific. We have invested significantly in the province, doubled our headquarter office space in North Vancouver and have a 243,000 square-foot factory in New Westminster. Our business has tripled in the last few years and we have recruited more than 500 people in B.C. Over 95% of them are Canadians.”

“For us, as for our peers, we need to be able to attract the best international talents to fuel our global-growth momentum and compete with the world's leading design, retail and e-com companies. Our industry would benefit greatly from a more agile and reactive immigration process to attract foreign experts, and from co-ordinated training programs to develop the regional talent pool.”

David Labistour, CEO of MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) –

“Like our peers in B.C.’s apparel manufacturing sector, MEC now competes against global brands and retailers for our customers’ patronage. The fact is, we all grapple with continuous changes to global supply chains, technology and consumer preferences.”

“We need the best people possible – top talent with international experience who can continually elevate our capabilities and mentor those under them to achieve the highest standards of design, performance and value – if B.C. apparel manufacturers are to thrive. We welcome the Province’s commitment to working together to address the labour challenges we all face.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. has the fourth-largest apparel sector in North America with 600 businesses, generating 7,000 jobs in the province, 14,000 jobs globally and shipping $3 billion in goods to over 50 countries.
• British Columbia’s apparel sector is comprised of designing, manufacturing and retailing of clothing and footwear.
• B.C.’s apparel sector reaches markets around the globe through high-quality brands.
• Well-known technical performance and premium brands include: Arc’teryx, Aritzia, Lululemon athletica, MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op), Herschel Supply and Kit and Ace.
• Boutique and mid-tier brands include Obakki, Native Shoes, John Fluevog, Minimoc and Tatum & Olivia.
• Specialized brands include Dayton Boots, Mustang Survival and Watson Gloves; and manufacturers such as Garmatex, GE Garments, Tamoda and Winner Sports.
• The manufacturing industry employs approximately 175,000 people and contributes $14.6 billion to the provincial GDP.

Learn More:

BC Jobs Plan:  www.bcjobsplan.ca  

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program: www.workbc.ca/sectorlabourmarketpartnerships

Employment and Social Development Canada, Labour Market Development Agreements:
http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/training_agreements/lmda//index.shtml

BC 2024 Labour Market Outlook: https://www.workbc.ca/Statistics/Labour-Market.aspx

WorkBC skills training programs:
www.workbc.ca/Education-Training/Programs/Pages/Employment-Programs.aspx

Industry Training Authority: www.itabc.ca