FACTS: Did you know?
$500 Million to meet industry skills needs & ensure British Columbians are first in line for jobs
BC’s Skills and Training Plan ensures that our government supports training opportunities that match today’s economy. We’re leading the country in job creation – matching skills to jobs, and jobs to skills. The BC Jobs Plan invests $500 million annually to meet industry needs and to ensure that British Columbians are first in line for jobs.
BC is strongly supporting skills training and benefits for those who work in the trades and technical sectors – or those who would like to be. BC’s Skills and Training Plan has funded $75 million to improve training facilities and equipment. And that’s not all: starting in 2013/14, the plan will dedicate $5 million annually to improving the skills of those already in the workforce so that they are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
BC’s Jobs Plan is leading the support and development of new and changing industries. For example, we expect to see new jobs in shipbuilding, the liquefied natural gas industry, as well as clean technology sectors. We’re also working with industry to provide training capacity for the skills needed to fill jobs: the BC government has created new training centres, tax credits, and other incentives to help British Columbians get the skills they need. Many of our initiatives are very specific, tailored precisely to an industry’s particular needs.
For example, we’ve committed nearly $2 million to increase skills in the mining sector; developed a workforce strategy for labour needs in the developing liquefied natural gas sector; and invested more than $2 million to enhance and advance the skills of British Columbians working in the forestry sector.
We’re also working with communities to determine priorities for skills training based on their specific, local needs.
As we move forward with the BC Jobs Plan, we’ll continue matching jobs to skills and skills to jobs, while ensuring that our training systems keep pace with our growing economy. That gives investors more confidence in B.C., knowing we have the skilled workforce they need, and it will help ensure that British Columbians are first in line for every new job.
