Students, workers and employers in B.C. have a new tool to help them prepare for a career or plan for staffing with the introduction of the Good Jobs Guide.

The Good Jobs Guide uses data from the 2019 Labour Market Outlook to provide a practical resource with examples of real careers and clear pathways for individuals to upgrade their skills or train for new opportunities.

“British Columbia has job opportunities for everyone, regardless of where they live and what their educational background is,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Our economy is strong, and forecasts show that employers will need people with a wide range of education and skills. Government is making education and training accessible where people live so that everyone can get good, family-supporting jobs in or near their communities. The Good Jobs Guide shows people real, practical ways they can prepare themselves for future employment in their chosen field.”

The Good Jobs Guide will be a valuable information resource for all British Columbians, especially parents, prospective students, job seekers, educators and businesses. The guide shows where, when and what kinds of jobs are expected to be available in B.C. between 2019 and 2029, along with wages and the type of education and/or training required.

“The Good Jobs Guide is an excellent tool to help grow B.C.’s talent pool and support economic development throughout all regions of the province,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness. “With a strong workforce in place, we are attracting more investments, expanding the innovation economy and adding more family-supporting jobs throughout the province.”

As in past years, the forecast shows that there will be a wide range of job opportunities – good news for people looking for their first job, thinking of changing jobs, or getting back into the job market.

“When people have meaningful work, it improves their quality of life and provides them with opportunity, while connecting them to their community,” said Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “In the next 10 years, there will be hundreds of thousands of new job openings throughout the province. The Good Job Guide will help people find career paths that are right for them and their families. Initiatives like these are an investment in our communities and help us in building a stronger B.C.”

The Good Jobs Guide shows how people can prepare for work by using existing supports such as WorkBC centres, WorkBC.ca, the education planner and the career guide for Indigenous peoples. The Good Jobs Guide also features British Columbians who share stories of their journeys to better jobs, demonstrating the types of opportunities open to everyone in B.C.

Quotes:

Lorri Fehr, chief executive officer, Columbia Lake Technology Centre –

“Tech businesses are increasingly becoming a part of the rural landscape, and we need to be prepared as economic drivers shift. Having the right talent in place is crucial to advancing projects like the world-class Technology Innovation Centre we are building in the East Kootenays. I’m pleased to see initiatives like the Good Jobs Guide, which offers guidance on how to obtain jobs of the future.” 

Cindy Oliver, chair, Industry Training Authority –

“With thousands of jobs being created in skilled trades careers over the coming years, this is a game-changing resource to help students who are exploring the 100-plus trades professions in B.C. available to all abilities and skill levels, and also for people of all ages considering a shift to interesting, rewarding and high-opportunity employment.”

Val Litwin, president and CEO, B.C. Chamber of Commerce –

“This province is a a place of vast opportunity. In the coming years, our economic development will rely on getting the right people, with the right skills, to the right parts of B.C. Our network wants to see the current labour-market issues addressed, and we applaud the B.C. government for creating a tool that will help people make informed career plans, and also determine how these plans align with current and future employment opportunities throughout the province.”

Quick Facts:

• The Labour Market Outlook forecasts 861,000 job openings over the next decade. Of those, 69% will be to replace people leaving the workforce, e.g., retiring. The remaining 31% will come from economic growth.
• Nearly 80% of jobs will require some type of post-secondary (after high school) education or training.
• 41% of job openings will need a certificate, diploma or apprenticeship training; 36% will need a bachelor’s, graduate or first professional degree; 23% of the jobs will require people with a high-school diploma, on-the-job training or less.

Learn More:

To see the new Good Jobs Guide, visit: https://www.workbc.ca/getmedia/30a4a0d6-57bd-4047-8b8b-250c54b505c3/BC_Good_Jobs_For_Today_And_Tomorrow_2019.aspx

To see a summary of the B.C. Labour Market Outlook: 2019 Edition results including links to new interactive career search tools, visit: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Industry/Labour-Market-Outlook.aspx

To access forecast data for all 500 occupations, industries and regions, visit: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/labour-market-outlook

For more information on where and how to find hiring and training opportunities, visit: http://www.workbc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.