According to British Columbia Job Market, the province will add one million jobs by 2033. The 10-year Labour Market Outlook study looks ahead at the province’s most-wanted jobs, skill-building programs, and schools, as well as the businesses that might be hiring.
The study shows that 65% of the new jobs in British Columbia (BC) will be to replace people who are retiring. By 2030, up to nine million Canadians are likely to be retired.
The last 35% of jobs in BC, or 345,000, will be filled by people moving to the province. The government of British Columbia expects jobs to grow by an average of 1.2% each year. This means that by 2033, 3.1 million more people will be working in BC.
Those who are new to the province will make up 46% of new job seekers by then, according to the study. The last report on the job market five years ago showed this number was 25% lower.
BC’s government says that over the next ten years, 470,000 new immigrant workers will come to the state. This includes both long-term and short-term people.
The province says that the number of people looking for work will match the number of new jobs because immigration levels are higher than expected and more people in key age groups are joining the workforce.
According to the study, 75% of the jobs that are expected to open up will need some kind of training or education after high school.
Job opportunities and training
The government of British Columbia has also included a list of the jobs that will have the most openings for people who want to join the workforce in BC. The list is broken up by the amount of education needed for each job:
Degree
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- software engineers and designers
College diploma or apprenticeship:
- social and community service workers
- early childhood educators and assistants
- police officers (except commissioned)
High school and/or occupation specific training:
- letter carriers
- couriers and messengers
- mail and parcel sorters, and related occupations
BC is trying to make training in a number of areas easier to get so that more people can get the skills and training they need to do well in one of these in-demand jobs. The province says it is already taking steps toward a number of new programs.
- Financing 602 new nursing seats at BC colleges and universities, bringing the total number of nursing seats in the province to about 2,000;
- Establishing a new medical school at Simon Fraser University; adding 40 new seats for undergraduate medical education; and funding up to 112 new residency seats at the University of British Columbia’s medical faculty;
- Generating over 1,700 new early childhood educator (ECE) spaces and 6,500 bursaries for ECE students since 2018;
- Generating about 6,000 new tech-relevant spaces since 2017; and
- Contributing $271.3 million toward the new Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation at Vancouver Community College.
- Up to 1,400 students a year can be accommodated at the training centre, which offers new courses in light rail, clean energy technologies, and zero-emission car maintenance.
BCPNP
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a group of immigration pathways that allow foreign nationals to settle in British Columbia as permanent residents of Canada.
The PNP is structured strategically to draw immigrants in areas where the province will profit from these skilled workers, such as skilled labour, labor-scarce industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. The province has two categories for its several immigration streams:
- British Columbia Skills Immigration
- British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration
BC Skills Immigration
British Columbia Skills Immigration seeks to bring in skilled workers with the necessary talents to make a significant contribution to British Columbia’s workforce. The BC Skills Immigration paths prioritize immigrants with work prospects in British Columbia and who exhibit the necessary experience to obtain and retain employment as residents of BC.
- British Columbia Skilled Worker
- British Columbia Healthcare Professional
- British Columbia International Graduate
- British Columbia International Post-Graduate
- British Columbia Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS)
British Columbia Express Entry
Candidates do not need to be eligible for Express Entry in order to apply to the BC Skills Immigration streams. This includes British Columbia International Post-Graduate, Entry Level, and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS) streams. However, for qualified applicants with an active Express Entry profile, the majority of BC Skills Immigration’s programs provide an expedited route to permanent residency. Check each stream’s application process to see if it provides an Express Entry route.
BC Entrepreneur Immigration
Foreign people and foreign businesses with proven track records of accomplishment in company ownership, management, and investment are the focus of British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration. By starting new businesses in the province, foreign corporations with large yearly revenues and individual entrepreneurs with sizable personal net worths might immigrate to British Columbia.
- British Columbia Entrepreneur
- British Columbia Entrepreneur Regional Pilot
- British Columbia Strategic Projects
BC PNP Tech
BC PNP Tech is designed for highly qualified foreign workers in BC’s high-demand technology fields. Since the Tech program is in line with BC Skills Immigration, prospective candidates are advised to examine the several streams that fall under the Skills Immigration umbrella.
Through applications, BC PNP Tech gives qualified foreign nationals access to more resources and expedited processing.
Through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), candidates can apply for provincial nomination every week (with a few exceptions). This helps the province hire more people.
Through the BC PNP, the province can find and choose economic immigrants who will be most likely to fit in well with the economy of the province. It is able to do this because both the federal and local governments are in charge of immigration.
When the BC PNP sends out offers, reports like the Labour Market Outlook help them figure out what qualities to focus on.
As an example, the state holds a draw for people who want to work in technology almost every other week. In every draw of 2023, it also asked for Early Childhood Educators, Assistants, and people looking for jobs in healthcare.
The province has also recently started looking for individuals who work in the construction industry.
The BC PNP has a number of programs that candidates can use to get nominated by the province. To get permanent resident status from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you need more than just a nomination. However, a nomination can make your case much stronger.
For skilled arrivals to British Columbia, the Skilled Workers, International Graduates, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled streams are some ways to get a provincial nomination. It also has a tech stream, a business stream, and a stream for people who want to use Express Entry. Every program has its own requirements for who can apply.
Summary:
- The recent Labour Market Outlook report for British Columbia predicts a significant job market expansion.
- One million jobs are expected to be added by 2033.
- BC anticipates approximately 470,000 new immigrant workers over the next ten years.
- A substantial 75% of the projected job openings in BC by 2033.
- The report identifies key occupations with the most job openings and is categorized by the level of education required.
- BC is proactively addressing workforce needs through various initiatives.
- The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) strategically attracts skilled workers.
- The BC PNP Tech program targets highly qualified foreign workers in the technology sector.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) – British Columbia Job Market:
Q1: What is the expected job growth in British Columbia (BC) according to the recent Labour Market Outlook report?
A1: The report suggests that BC will add one million jobs by 2033, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%. 65% of these jobs aim to replace retiring workers, while the remaining 35% will be filled by newcomers to the province.
Q2: How many new immigrant workers is British Columbia expecting over the next ten years?
A2: The government anticipates that approximately 470,000 new immigrant workers will come to the province in the next decade, encompassing both long-term and short-term residents.
Q3: What percentage of the job market in BC is expected to require training or education beyond high school?
A3: According to the study, 75% of the anticipated job openings in BC by 2033 will require some form of training or education beyond high school.
Q4: What steps is the government taking to address the growing job market demands in BC?
A4: The government is implementing various initiatives, including funding additional nursing and medical school seats, creating spaces for early childhood educators, and contributing to a new Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation at Vancouver Community College.
Q5: What are some of the key occupations listed in the Labour Market Outlook that will have the most job openings?
A5: The list includes professions such as registered nurses, elementary school teachers, software engineers, social and community service workers, police officers, and more, categorized by the level of education required.
Q6: What is the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)?
A6: BC PNP is a set of immigration pathways allowing foreign nationals to become permanent residents in British Columbia. It strategically targets skilled workers, labor-scarce industries, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Q7: How is the BC Skills Immigration program structured, and who does it prioritize?
A7: BC Skills Immigration prioritizes skilled workers with the talents to contribute significantly to BC’s workforce. It includes pathways for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and entry-level/semi-skilled workers.
Q8: What is BC Entrepreneur Immigration, and who is it designed for?
A8: BC Entrepreneur Immigration is for foreign individuals and businesses with a proven track record in company ownership, management, and investment. It encourages the establishment of new businesses in the province.
Q9: What is the BC PNP Tech program, and who does it target?
A9: BC PNP Tech is designed for highly qualified foreign workers in BC’s technology fields. It aligns with BC Skills Immigration and offers expedited processing for qualified candidates.
Q10: How often does BC PNP hold draws, and how do the reports like the Labour Market Outlook influence their decisions?
A10: BC PNP holds draws regularly, and reports like the Labour Market Outlook help them identify areas of focus. For example, the province has drawn individuals in technology, early childhood education, healthcare, and the construction industry based on the labor market needs.
