Skills, Training and Labour

Taking Action to Meet the Demand for Workers

The energy sector has been a major contributor to British Columbia's record economic performance since 2001. The BC Energy Plan focuses on four under-represented groups that offer excellent employment potential: Aboriginal people, immigrants, women and youth.

At the same time, the energy sector must overcome a variety of skills training and labour challenges to ensure future growth.

These challenges include:

• An aging workforce that upon retirement will leave a gap in experience and expertise.
• Competition for talent from other jurisdictions.
• Skills shortages among present and future workers.
• Labour market information gaps due to a lack of in-depth study.
• The need to coordinate immigration efforts with the federal government.
• The need for greater involvement of under-represented energy sector workers such as Aboriginal people, immigrants, women, and youth.
• A highly mobile workforce that moves with the opportunities.
• The need to improve productivity and enhance competitiveness.

Innovative, practical and timely skills training, and labour management is required to ensure the energy sector continues to thrive. As part of The BC Energy Plan, government will work collaboratively with industry, communities, Aboriginal people, education facilities, the federal government and others to define the projected demand for workers and take active measures to meet those demands.

Attract Highly Skilled Workers

Demographics show that those born at the height of the baby boom are retired or nearing retirement, leaving behind a growing gap in skills and expertise. Since this phenomenon is taking place in most western nations, attracting and retaining skilled staff is highly competitive.

To ensure continued energy sector growth, we need to attract workers from outside the province, particularly for the electricity, oil and gas, and heavy construction industries where the shortage is most keenly felt. At this time, a significant increase in annual net migration of workers from other provinces and from outside Canada is needed to complement the existing workforce.

Government and its partners are developing targeted plans to attract the necessary workers. These plans will include marketing and promoting energy sector jobs as a career choice.

Develop a Robust Talent Pool of Workers

It is vital to provide the initial training to build a job-ready talent pool in British Columbia, as well as the ongoing training employees need to adapt to changing energy sector technologies, products and requirements. We can ensure a thriving pool of talent in British Columbia by retraining skilled employees who are without work due to downturns in other industries. Displaced workers from other sectors and jurisdictions may require some retraining and new employees may need considerable skills development.

Another way to help ensure there are enough skilled energy sector workers in the years ahead is to educate and inform young people today. By letting high school students know about the opportunities, they can consider their options and make the appropriate training and career choices. Government will work to enhance information relating to energy sector activities in British Columbia's school curriculum in the years ahead.

Retain Skilled Workers

Around the world, energy facility construction and operations are booming, creating fierce, global competition for skilled workers. While British Columbia has much to offer, it is critical that our jurisdiction presents a superior opportunity to these highly skilled and mobile workers. That is why we need to ensure our workplaces are safe, fair and healthy and our communities continue to offer an unparalleled lifestyle with high quality health care and education, affordable housing, and readily available recreation opportunities in outstanding natural settings.

Inform British Columbians

To be effective in filling energy sector jobs with skilled workers, British Columbians need to be informed and educated about the outstanding opportunities available. As part of The BC Energy Plan, a comprehensive public awareness and education campaign based on sound labour market analysis will reach out to potential energy sector workers. This process will recognize and address both the potential challenges such as shift work and remote locations as well as the opportunities, such as obtaining highly marketable skills and earning excellent compensation.