An additional 754 critical-trades seats are being added to 10 public post-secondary institutions throughout the province to boost capacity and ensure students can access training in a range of in-demand occupations in sectors that support the provincial economy.                                          

The $1.5-million investment will increase training capacity and meet the demands of the growing provincial economy in trades that support a range of industries such as construction, liquefied natural gas and automotive service.

“Our government is investing in students by adding 754 more training seats at public post-secondary institutions throughout the province,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Targeting funding for education and training programs that support our growing, diverse and strong economy will result in prosperity for families, communities and the province.”

The announcement follows the two-year anniversary of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, launched by government in 2014. B.C.’s Blueprint outlines a plan to re-engineer the education system by aligning education and training with in-demand jobs in B.C.

“Our government is putting students first by focussing on apprenticeship training opportunities and ensuring that they have the training needed for in-demand careers in B.C.,” said Jobs, Tourism and Skills Development Minister and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond. “Government has a plan through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to build prosperity in our province by aligning education and training with jobs that are in demand.”

Since 2014, government has invested more than $14.5 million for critical-trade seats and $20 million for trades training equipment, which translates into more than 3,700 total new critical-trades seats for students in B.C.

“The Industry Training Authority is working with government to support apprenticeship training and identify new training approaches,” said Industry Training Authority CEO Gary Herman. “Funding for additional trades seats will create opportunities for apprenticeship students to get the hands-on training they need for high-demand careers in British Columbia.”

B.C. expects almost one million job openings by 2024. Most of these openings will require post-secondary training, and approximately 42% of job openings will require college education or apprenticeship training.

“Power engineering is one of those trades that have a lot of older members of the workforce who are going to be retiring, and as far as I understand, there aren’t a whole lot of younger people in the trade yet,” said Vancouver Island University power engineering student Geoff Harris. “The VIU program gives employers on the island access to a pool of skilled workers right here on Vancouver Island."

Nearly one million job openings are expected in B.C. over the next decade, and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education. In-demand occupations requiring post-secondary education or training range from professional to management to trades in a range of sectors including technology, resource and health care.

Learn More:

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint/Learn-about-Blueprint.aspx

BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/

#BCTECH Strategy: https://bctechstrategy.gov.bc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.