Prince George, B.C. – The issue of a shortage of skilled labour is front and centre today and tomorrow at the Ramada.

A two day series of workshops will be underway , hosted by the Resources North Association (RNA).

Diana Tecson is the Executive Assistant to the RNA and says those who have registered for the sessions represent a broad cross section. “There are people from Government, companies, the university and college. There are some training and consulting groups, and industry.”

Tecson says the workshops won’t be just about one person making a presentation and others listening “We want participants to participate. We want to identify the barriers and challenges, and develop strategies to address the   problems.”

The workshops are the latest in a round of activities aimed at addressing what many in the resource sector say is a labour crisis. Some have indicated that while reports suggest the labour shortage is years away, they are experiencing the difficulty in recruitment and retention now. They point out there is an urgency as apprenticeships for many trades take years to complete and the qualified mentors are on the verge of retirement and may not be around to offer the wealth of on the job experience the young apprentices need.

The Ministry of Jobs Tourism and Innovation has promised there will be a Workforce roundtable to help identify the   areas which are facing the most critical shortages and look at strategies necessary to address those issues. That roundtable is expected to have started its work this week.