BC’s Skilled Trades Gap Shrinks As More Youth Enter Trades

November 14, 2016

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) reports better than expected results for BC’s skilled workforce, in key figures recently released on the province’s industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector.

One of the biggest gains comes in the ratio of BC high school graduates entering trades training programs within one year of graduation. When the BCCA first began calculating this number in 2013, it estimated that 1/93 students went from Grade 12 into trades training. In 2016 that number has improved by 35% to 1/69.

“Our youth are getting the message that the trades can be a very rewarding and lucrative career path,” observes Manley McLachlan, BCCA President. “Even so, we would need 1/10 high school graduates to enter the trades in order to have enough skilled journey people for the jobs that are coming.”

Earlier this year Buildforce Canada revised its estimate for BC’s skilled worker shortage to 15,000 by 2025, which is 51% lower than their 2013 estimate of 30,500.

“It’s very important to understand that the main reason for the predicted skilled worker shortage is retirements,” cautions McLachlan. “If liquefied natural gas projects go ahead, the gap gets even bigger. Do not make the mistake of disregarding the worker shortage because of lack of progress on the LNG side. The workforce pressure is on regardless.”

BC’s unemployment rate for youth (those aged 15-24) has dropped 14% since 2013.

“It’s important to recognize that (today’s) 11.1% youth unemployment means more than 42,000 young people would like to be employed but can’t find jobs,” says Chris Atchison, Provincial Manager of the Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP). “When you compare that to the skills gap in our sector, the solution seems clear. But the problem is still a long way from being solved.”