The province is kicking in another $100,000 to help grow the labour pool for B.C.’s auto industry.
The latest investment will develop a high-school outreach program, create a human-resource toolkit, provide succession-planning resources and improve human resource management materials. It brings to $282,300 the amount invested in a three-phase approach.
“There are concerns that we have more people exiting the workforce than new folks coming in,” said Greg Kyllo, parliamentary secretary for the B.C. Jobs Plan. “The intent is to try and increase awareness of the trades available in the auto sector. This is to put [the automotive sector’s] ideas into action to retain and attract the right workers with the right skills.”
It will also deal with succession planning because many in the sector will be facing retirement over the next 10 years.
Kyllo noted the province has forecast as many as one million jobs being available between now and 2022.
“Two-thirds of that are expected from retirement and one-third through economic growth,” he said.
Since the summer of 2012, the province has spent about $180,000 on labour market partnership program agreements with the automotive sector to do an evaluation of the sector’s labour issues and to develop career-awareness and marketing strategies to attract potential workers.
“Labour attraction and retention is a significant issue for automotive businesses in B.C.,” said Ken McCormack, president of the Automotive Retailers Association. “There are so many opportunities today and in the immediate future — not just in the technical trades, but opportunities include management, administration, sales, customer service, parts recycling, drivers and much more.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that the environment that our member businesses operate in is profitable and sustainable.”
According to the province, B.C.’s automotive sector — primarily a service industry based around the sale, maintenance, repair, towing and recovery, and disposal of motor vehicles — employs about 45,000 people, with 2,800 active apprentices registered in automotive sector-related trades.
Victoria’s Advance Collision owners Jon Bell and Sherry Baird said the province’s investment will help develop new ways to tap into the broader labour market.
“We strive to provide long-term employment in order to create a strong team and a committed work atmosphere,” the owners said. “After more than 50 years in business, we know Advance Collision is only as good as the people who work here.”
