The Industry Training Authority and Initiatives Prince George co-hosted a workshop on Thursday for 48 industry, labour, education and community leaders to learn how better to promote trades training and attracting skilled labour in northern B.C. on Thursday.
Industry Training Authority CEO Kevin Evans said he'll return to Vancouver with some new ideas on how to approach trades training in the North. "Some messages came out loud and clear. There is a hunger for us to be exploring alternative training models," Evan said. "I think there is some really exciting things we can do in the North."
Some of the ideas suggested to overcome barriers to attracting skilled labour identified by participants included: coordinating marketing and promotion; reaching out to First Nations and immigrants; training closer in the North; increasing tax credits for employers to training; engaging students in high schools; promoting workers to permanently relocate in the North; and building stronger links between employers and education institutions.
dependence which is needed by workers in remote, rural settings and promoting development of workers already in the industry.
Getting schools and parents to understand the opportunities offered by the trades was also identified by participants.
Forestry TruckSafe director MaryAnne Arcand said the cost of training has become a barrier for students and employers.
"To train an excavator or buncher operator costs $25,000," Arcand said. "We can find people, but they can't afford to do the training. To get your class one [driver's license] costs $12,000 to $15,000. Student loans aren't going to cover that."
Initiatives Prince George president Tim McEwan said the recommendations have given a clear mandate for the economic development agency.
"Prince George is a great place to live. We've got to get that message out far and wide," McEwan said.
