Province unveils plans to address worker shortages
Premier David Eby released a new skills training plan as ongoing labour shortages affecting nearly every industry impact British Columbians.
Cancelled ferries, higher prices as some hotels in Victoria offer free hotel rooms to lure workers, and beloved restaurants closing are all part of how residents are experiencing a lack of workers.
The premier is offering help for workforce woes --- in the form of a new skills training plan.
A key feature is a $3,500 future skills grant which covers most of the tuition for in-demand jobs in tech, construction and clean energy. 8,500 people are expected to be trained in the next three years.
Eby said the program would respond to labour demands.
"Let's say you're running an electrical installation firm and some of your electricians need additional training on installing electric car charging systems, they could take up this program as an employer, have those employees go and do this training program for free," Eby told reporters at a press conference in Vancouver.
Other measures include rapid response training, a re-education hub to allow people to train up for new jobs, linking schools to work opportunities and streamlining foreign credential recognition. There are also strategies to get more Indigenous people and others who face barriers trained and into the workforce. Another plank includes making post-secondary fees more affordable.
Coralee Oakes, the B.C. United critic for Advanced Education says one thing that's missing is immediate action.
"For that small business owner that has been waiting desperately, working seven days a week hoping that somebody will come in to support them in their small business. You know, they're concerned this isn't going to happen fast enough," Oakes added.
The critic would also like to see the funding formula for universities re-examined.
An estimated 135,000 jobs are currently unfilled across the province, according to the Canadian Federation for Independent Business.
Western Canadian economist Jairo Yunis said a recent survey found one in five businesses are considering shutting down due to the labour shortage, high interest rates and elevated inflation rates.
"Small businesses in B.C. say the labour shortages are the main factor impacting their growth," Yunis told CTV News.
Yunis added he also thought immediate relief was lacking, and he thought tax credits to recognize on-the-job training and to increase automation would help.
"Looking at reducing payroll costs would go a long way to kind of tackling the labor shortages issue," Yunis explained.
Critics say the plan doesn't address acute labour shortages in the service sector, and worry a lack of workers in construction could hinder housing -- which will be needed -- with a million job openings expected over the next decade.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.