鈥淏C鈥檚 construction industry is in a vice grip right now, and it鈥檚 tightening,鈥� says Chris Atchison, B.C. Construction Association (BCCA) President.
鈥淓mployers are dealing with rising costs, material shortages, increased taxes, mandatory sick pay, labour shortages, and late payments. It can be costly to hire and train new apprentices, and especially in this climate, $40,000 can go a good distance to alleviating some of that cost burden.鈥�
Employers can spend the financial incentives at their discretion.
For example: hiring bonuses, gear and work apparel, childcare costs, offsetting business taxes, offsetting costs of mandatory sick leave, training and mentoring, raises for field or office staff, safety equipment, or new technology.
As part of the service to employers, BCCA will provide culture training through its Builders Code program, and mentorship support through its new Building Builders initiative.
BC鈥檚 construction industry is approximately 95 per cent male and continues to face a skilled workforce shortage during a time of high demand for construction services. Most employers are small, with 90 per cent employing 20 workers or less.
鈥淲e need more skilled trades workers in British Columbia, and across Canada,鈥� said Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e working with employers to create tens of thousands of new apprenticeships. It鈥檚 why we鈥檙e doubling incentives for employers who hire women, persons with disabilities, and other traditionally marginalized groups 鈥� to make sure that everyone who wants to pursue a skilled trade, has the chance to.鈥�
鈥淭he skilled trades offer many exciting and rewarding career opportunities, and they are in high demand,鈥� said Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors. 鈥淭he Apprenticeship Service will help Canadians get valuable work experience in the skilled trades, particularly equity-deserving groups such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized people.This will also support small and medium-sized enterprises who are providing these key job opportunities to first-year apprentices.鈥�
鈥淲e know that construction employers are already doing their best to find and hire workers鈥� says Atchison. 鈥淪o, in addition to the financial incentives, we鈥檙e going to mount a compelling acquisition campaign to bring new talent to employers who list their jobs with us. We鈥檒l be working with a digital recruitment agency, as well as a marketing and communications agency. We鈥檙e pulling out all the stops.鈥�
deb.meissner@interior-news.com
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