Jobs Numbers Good News – Bell
Friday, October 5, 2012 @ 9:47 AM
Prince George, B.C. – Minister of Jobs Tourism and Skills Training Pat Bell is pretty happy with the latest job numbers as once again, Prince George has hit a record high level of employment.
“An additional 700 jobs this past month, so we’re now at 52,500 jobs in Prince George” says Bell “Clearly it is as a result of Prince George acting as a service centre to the large projects we are seeing across British Columbia.”
He says its also important to note the gains throughout B.C. in the full time employment with 11,900 full time positions added since August against a loss of 6,200 part time positions over the same period.
When it comes to job gains, Bell says significant B.C. gains have come since the Jobs Plan was introduced in September of last year. During that time, 57,400 jobs were gained, ahead of Ontario with 55,400, Alberta which gained 45,400 and Quebec which gained 35,100.
During the same period the B.C. unemployment rate has inched up to 7%, up .2% from September of last year, but Bell says that isn’t a bad thing “That’s a good thing from our perspective, people are back in B.C., moving back to B.C. and people are saying it’s because they believe there’s an opportunity to get a job. So the fact the actual percentage changed is not a particular concern, if anything, I would consider that a positive signal that people are re-entering the workforce with the confidence that they will find a job.”
With the resource development, and the increase in B.C’s workforce, there is a possibility people will come to this province expecting to land work very quickly. As was the case decades ago in Alberta, those who lack the proper skills, may be disappointed. “There is no question that we need to make sure people have the skills required to fill positions and that doesn’t happen quickly” says Bell. He says the new skills training plan released a couple of weeks ago (see previous story) should encourage more students to consider a career in trades. “There are a number of pieces and certainly we have to move quickly. The boom is on us here, but that said, it can all disappear very, very quickly, we know it’s fragile.”
Some of the major projects in B.C. requiring skilled workers include liquefied natural gas production and the increase in mine production with two mines beginning production, one under construction, three more are expected to start construction this year.
Comments
So when a summer student goes back to school and some one gets the job to replace the person going to school, does that count as a new job?
I think if somebody babysits 4 kids; then that is considered 4 jobs! How else does 90% of the population here have jobs? That includes all the retired people, people in hospital beds, kids in daycare, welfare bums and all those in the boneyard?! Sorry – missed all the stay at home moms & or dads!
Maybe Bell could elaborate on the large projects we are seeing across BC.
Terrane Metals, Mount Milligan mine has been around for a couple of years now.
The big expansion at Endako Mines was completed months ago, and in fact they have laid off over 100 employees. So they have less regular workers, this year than last.
There is a lot of work taking place in Terrace and Kitimat, however being 500 miles away you could hardly call that Prince George. We are a service centre to some of these points, however we always have been, so I doubt that we would get that significant of an increase.
No big projects in Prince George that I am aware of, so where do all these jobs come from.
CNC and the University have been laying off rather than hiring.
I think we are being sold a bill of goods.
Comments for this article are closed.