There has been a lot of media attention lately surrounding the use of foreign trade workers in our province. Whether it was bringing in workers from overseas to work at a Northern B.C. mine or the recent decision to suspend a "fast-tracking" process within the Provincial Nominee Program, provincial immigration affairs and industry hiring practices are a hot topic.
What we need to keep in mind, however, is that our province needs skilled foreign workers to mitigate a labour shortage that is putting our economic growth at risk, and we must not allow gut reactions to specific cases dictate public opinion or guide public policy decisions with far-reaching, future implications.
Our province's construction industry, a major economic contributor, is one of many industries that relies upon a physically present, skilled human workforce. The B.C. construction industry is poised for substantial growth over the next decade, with investment in major mining, utility, transportation and pipeline projects driving increases in commercial, institutional and government building construction.
Many of these projects will be located in and around B.C.'s northern towns such as Kitimat and Prince George.
However, significant challenges accompany these opportunities in the form of numbers, versatility and mobility.
NUMBERS
The baby-boomer generation created a population surge that subsequent generations have not matched, and that generation is approaching retirement. In addition, the demand for our workers originating from major projects in other industries within B.C., as well as major construction projects upcoming in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario and Newfoundland threaten to draw workers away.
The Construction Sector Council's preliminary data for the 2013-2021 forecast scenario estimates that construction labour force requirements in B.C. will rise by an estimated 22,500 between now and 2021 in response to project expansion demand.
This will coincide with an increase in replacement demand related to the expected retirement of 32,400 workers. About 24,300 first-time new entrants are estimated to become available to fill the overall increase in labour requirements. This means that our local construction industry will need to attract more than 30,000 new workers from outside the industry to meet total labour demands.
VERSATILITY
The gap created between the supply and demand of Canadian skilled trade workers, caused by versatility and mobility issues, may further compound the challenges. Barriers to mobility can come in the form of workers who are unable or unwilling to move north where job demand is highest.
Skill-versatility barriers, caused by limitations on worker ability to retrain, upgrade and adapt skills to meet the shifting demands that large upcoming projects will require could also become an issue.
Skilled foreign workers bring with them a number of vital solutions to help fill the gap, particularly in peak times. Years of work in trade occupations in their home countries give them experience, something that cannot be taught or garnered quickly. This experience, coupled with existing job-ready skills, allows them to not only step into the roles of those in our industry who are retiring, but to also effectively train our young people to fill those roles in the future.
MOBILITY
The versatility and flexibility of skills that these workers bring can allow them to meet the constantly changing demands of upcoming projects. Mobility is often not an issue for foreign workers, as they have yet to establish roots in Canada. Many skilled foreign workers have intentions to live long-term in Canada, contribute to our economy, and help build our province. The Provincial Nominee Program provides incentive for these workers to come to B.C. by offering workers with skills and experience the opportunity to become permanent residents of Canada.
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) supports a regulatory framework that ensures fair treatment for both foreign workers and Canadians seeking employment in the construction industry, but the public and legislators need to understand that the construction industry cannot survive without skilled foreign workers, and the benefits they bring with them.
Follow Keith Sashaw on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VanConstruction
I some how think that the "bottom line" is a factor in bringing these workers in.
Only reason for imported workers is very specific skills for "one of " type projects.
The only ones that foreign workers help are those who seek short term corporate profits. Now, I have nothing against corporate profits, being a business owner myself. However, corporations should be yielding benefit in the communities that host them. The use of foreign workers short-circuits those benefits and greatly reduces the value of the resources.
We really have little use for the kind of corporations that have been brought up under the BC Liberal's corporate welfare scheme. They are fat and lazy and accustomed to taking all that they can while giving nothing (except to their party). We need corporate leaders and visionaries who know the importance of investing in training our people.
If the resources can't be extracted with Canadian workers, then they should stay in the ground until they can be.
Clearly the motivation behind this drive for foreign worker permits is to increase supply in order to reduce wages.
As a veteran journeyman electrician, it is hard to sympathize with employers who are unwilling to apprentice young Canadians.
Translation: It's hard to find Canadians willing to work at skilled trades for minimum wage and no benefits, but other countries have lots who will work for food alone.
" . . . the demand for our workers originating from major projects in other industries . . . as well as major construction projects . . . threaten to draw workers away."
Translation: Some short-sighted capitalists are threatening to pay more than minimum wage for skilled workers and we fear some of our wage slaves might move out of province.
"Skilled foreign workers bring with them . . . Years of work in trade occupations in their home countries . . . experience, coupled with existing job-ready skills, allows them to not only step into the roles of those in our industry who are retiring, but to also effectively train our young people to fill those roles in the future."
Translation: No way we're going to train Canadians to do these jobs - we're not doing it now and why should we? That costs us money.
Also, we're just kidding about lettting foreign workers train anyone else. Why would we train Canadians who expect to be paid a living wage??