The Government of British Columbia announced today an investment of $3 million at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for skills training in high-priority trades seats.

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, announced the funding today on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, at KPU's Tech campus in Cloverdale.

The investment, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), will fund 1,238 seats at KPU’s Tech Campus in Cloverdale through to March 31, 2017, in various trades, including welding, electrical, automotive service technician, millwright and carpentry.

The funding is part of the ITA’s annual allocation to B.C. post-secondary institutions and training providers to run various training programs throughout the province.

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In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific high-priority trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

Cadieux also highlighted the 2025 B.C. Labour Market Outlook, which provides a forecast of a wide range of occupations that will be in high demand in British Columbia in the next 10 years.

The outlook is a valuable resource for educators, counsellors, students and their families in making decisions regarding education and skills training. It also helps those who are unemployed or underemployed find jobs that are currently in demand. Post-secondary institutions also use this data to ensure their programming aligns with high-demand occupations now and over the next decade.

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Quotes:

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

“Our investments through the Skills for Jobs Blueprint target high-priority trades so we have the workforce necessary for our growing economy and the almost one million job openings we anticipate in B.C. by 2025. By working with our training providers like Kwantlen Polytechnic University, we are giving British Columbians the skills they need for the in-demand jobs of the future.”

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA, Surrey-Cloverdale —

“Our government is aligning education and training with in-demand jobs. B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint outlines a plan to align funding and programs to a data-driven system where training dollars and programs target in-demand occupations.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority —

“Trades training investments are integral to sustaining the upward momentum of B.C.’s economy. There is growing interest in trade careers across the province and the investment announced today will ensure British Columbians have the opportunity to access training in high-priority trades so that they are equipped with the right skills to respond to the job opportunities to come.”

Alan Davis, president and vice-chancellor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University —

“At KPU Tech we combine both theory and practical experience, where students can develop the skills necessary to fill these in-demand careers. This investment means we can deliver more of this training to our students and help meet employer demand in our region.”

Quick Facts:

• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) – more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• British Columbia is expecting nearly one million job openings by 2025 due to retirements and economic growth.
• Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

• Industry Training Authority: http://www.itabc.ca/
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University: http://www.kpu.ca/
• B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint : https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint/Learn-about-Blueprint.aspx
• B.C. Labour Market Outlook: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx