The City of Kamloops knows it has a labour shortage coming, and work is underway to help local businesses meet the future demand for workers.

Venture Kamloops, the city’s economic development branch, received $117,000 in government funding for a 2015 labour market study that found 35,000 new jobs are expected to open in the region by 2025 and recommended creating a strategy to attract employees to take those jobs.

With another $96,000 in government funding, Venture Kamloops in partnership with Community Futures Thompson Country, will hire a consultant to develop that strategy through a Labour Market Partnership study called the Kamloops Labour Attraction Partnership.

The 2015 study found that the most in-demand jobs expected in the region are for qualified and experienced tradespeople (5,200 jobs), as well as workers in health care (2,500), hospitality and tourism (1,100), and administration, finance and clerical staff (4,300 jobs), while nearly half of all new hires between 2015 and 2025 will need some post-secondary education, whether through a trade certification, college education or a university degree.

To create the Labour Market Attraction strategy for Kamloops, a steering committee has been assembled. The initial phase of the project will see the committee consult with at least 100 local businesses before issuing a request for proposals.

The consultant with the successful proposal will then create a sector-specific report that covers at least five areas and provides businesses with strategies that will allow them to better direct their employee attraction resources and increase the number of people moving to Kamloops to join the workforce.

This project is the result of a strong partnership between Venture Kamloops and Community Futures Thompson Country.

The members of the Labour Attraction Partnership Steering Committee are:

• Community Futures Thompson Country
• Human Resources Management Association Interior Chapter
• Kamloops Innovation Centre Society
• Open Door Group
• Thompson Rivers University Career Education Department
• British Columbia Lottery Corporation
• Kamloops Chamber of Commerce
• Thompson Rivers University Healthy and Productive Workforce

The final report of the project is expected to be complete in June 2017.

Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation funding is provided through the Labour Market Partnerships stream of the Community and Employer Partnerships program, which funds projects that increase employability levels and share labour market information.

Community and Employer Partnerships are featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and provides support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market. It also helps build stronger partnerships with industry and labour to connect British Columbians with classroom instruction and on-the-job training, while making it easier for employers to hire the skilled workers they need – when and where they need them.

To date, more than 1,200 job seekers have benefited from work experience and more than 240 projects have been funded throughout the province.

Quotes:

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation –

“Our government is committed to helping expand labour markets by establishing partnerships throughout the Province. The results of this study will give us an excellent framework to attract more and more workers to Kamloops.”

Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson –

“The results of this study are going to provide local businesses a blueprint for growth for years to come and help Kamloops continue to grow as a large market in B.C.”

Terry Lake, Minister of Health and MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson –

“The strategy that this Labour Market Partnership study will bring to Kamloops businesses will be critical to our region’s growth. It’s a great way for our government to team up with local economic development partners to help businesses know what’s ahead of them.”

Jim Anderson, executive director, Venture Kamloops –

“The Labour Attraction Partnership is a logical next step for our organization to take in response to the labour force issues identified last year. We’re excited to once again be partnering with the Province and Community Futures Thompson Country on a valuable collaborative project.”

Bill Kershaw, chair, Community Futures Thompson Country –

“Community Futures Thompson Country is thrilled to once again be partnering with Venture Kamloops and the Province to work on labour force development. The Labour Attraction Partnership is a natural next step project that will undoubtedly prove to be an additional key resource for our clients and the business community, as it relates to the labour situation.”

Quick Facts:

• Local WorkBC Employment Services Centres play a leading role in connecting eligible job seekers to Job Creation Partnerships and Project-Based Labour Market Training opportunities in their communities. Once a connection between the client and a suitable project has been made, the WorkBC centre continues to provide financial support and services to ensure the client’s success.
• In 2016-17, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of British Columbia.
• The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
• Funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation

Who is eligible for Community and Employer Partnerships funding?

• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Crown corporations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• First Nation bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions

Learn More:

Find out more about Venture Kamloops: http://venturekamloops.com/

Learn more about Community Futures Thompson Country: http://www.communityfutures.net/

For more information on Community and Employer Partnerships: www.workbc.ca/CEP

Learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi

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

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