Presidents call for provincial dialogue on skills and education shortage

While confirming cuts to provincial post-secondary education funding in coming years, BC Budget 2013 was silent about how the government intends to deal with the looming skills and education shortage due to hit the province in 2016 and growing from there.

The government’s own numbers show that by 2020 the skills and education deficit will leave 18,800 jobs unfilled in BC because too few British Columbians have the necessary education and training–8,400 jobs requiring a university degree, 8,100 a college credential, and 2,300 trades training.

With a provincial election on the near horizon, BC’s research university presidents are calling on the political parties to engage in a meaningful dialogue with British Columbians about how best to close the skills gap so that BC’s economy stays strong and BC residents are positioned to fill the jobs of the future. More info on the skills deficit

“It’s critical that the political parties look to the future with a plan to meet the skills shortage by expanding opportunities for all British Columbians through new investments in post-secondary education at all levels—university, college and trades training,” says UVic President David Turpin. “We need to start now to ensure that British Columbians are ready to take these high-value jobs when the jobs become available.”

In October, BC’s research university presidents tabled a proposal designed to meet this challenge with the Legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance. Entitled “The Opportunity Agenda,” the plan calls for funding 11,000 more seats in graduate, undergraduate, college and trades programs to provide a space for every qualified student; a financial guarantee for students in need; and a commitment to ongoing funding for innovation and jobs. More info on the Opportunity Agenda