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Find qualified workers to help your business grow

By Yvonne Yua

Like many business owners in British Columbia, you are likely faced with the challenge of growing your business and hiring talented and qualified workers to launch you to the next level.

According to the Urban Futures Institute, an estimated 425,000 Canadian workers are set to retire every year starting in 2010. We also anticipate that in the next 15 years, the non-working age population will increase faster than the working age population. B.C. predicts almost one million job openings by 2018, and only half will be filled by our current population. All these figures mean one thing: We have an urgent need for immigrants to help fill these job vacancies.

We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many skilled immigrants in B.C., many of whom are unemployed or underemployed. Countries around the world are envious of the position that Canada is in. Many of these countries have lost their highly educated citizens to Canada only to see these talented people end up in low-skilled and low-wage positions. It is said that the best place to have a heart attack is in a taxi because your driver is likely a physician! Humour aside, this is an unfortunate situation for immigrants and employers facing a skills shortage.

Recognizing the need for intervention, the federal and provincial governments have teamed up with local organizations to help prepare immigrants for the B.C. labour market. Governments also recognize the challenges new immigrants encounter to find jobs that match their experience and expertise. These challenges include a lack of Canadian credentials and work experience, a limited understanding of the Canadian workplace and culture, a lack of job-specific language skills, and a lack of recognition for their international credentials. The B.C. Skills Connect for Immigrants Program was created to provide immigrants with the resources, support and expertise they require to attain their career goals and to connect them with employers like you. The Skills Connect program providers have a large pool of qualified workers who are eager to join and help you grow your business! Contact them for more information and to post jobs or hire for free.

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