Photo: Worker in BC . . . skilled workers shortage looms, says labour market report
Vancouver: As an ever-increasing tide of Baby-Boomers leaves the workplace, employers are now struggling with a skills shortage that will become exponentially more challenging in the decade to come.
According to a survey by Workopolis, 71 per cent of Canadian employers are reporting a lack of skilled workers is impacting their business and this response has increased by five per cent in just the past three years.
When Canadian employers are asked what candidates are lacking, both soft skills (29%) and technical skills (23%) ranked in the top three responses, following experience at 38% per cent. Just four per cent of respondents felt a lack of education was a key challenge in recruiting skilled workers.
British Columbia faces a whole new set of challenges as we prepare for the 2020s. While entry-level employment continues to be the most over-supplied job category in the labour market, jobs with a significant skill set are becoming harder to fill.
While apprenticeship, education and employment experience continue to serve as the most valuable source for developing occupationally-specific skills, a new classification of transferable technical skills are emerging that many employers demand. These skills typically relate to electronic communication or the storage, interpretation and manipulation of data.
According to Workopolis, the top ten skills rising in demand include: HTML5, social media platforms, big data, nosql, jQuery, Tableau, MongoDB, Google Analytics, JSON and Revit.
Communication skills in all forms – speaking, listening, reading and writing – are now essential to most occupations. The majority of job postings regularly note the importance of communication skills for potential job applicants.
The Workopolis data notes that over 60 per cent of healthcare and wellness jobs require good communication skills. Almost half (47%) of technology and digital media jobs require good communication skills and an equal number (47%) of sales and business development jobs request good communication skills.
Researchers found three in five marketing job ads ask for good communication skills.
Expecting a surge of Baby Boomers to leave their jobs between 2018 and 2024, having the necessary skilled workers will mean the difference between failure and success for many B.C. employers.
Salaries are the most common lever many employers choose to adjust and yet this will simply result in a bidding war. Successful businesses may choose more engaged alternatives for finding the best employees.
Every employer needs to ask themselves, “What am I doing to be an employer of choice?” Employers need to encourage long-term loyalty among their staff.
Alternatives might include structured opportunities for advancement, increased full-time employment, employee ownership, workplace wellness, open decision making, non-traditional benefits (wellness days vs. sick days), increased vacation, telecommuting, free parking, workplace snacks and programs to support children and pets.
While employers can do a great deal to improve their workplace and lure away their competition’s best and brightest talent, a great deal more can be done to engage populations that are under-represented in the labour market.
Apprenticing a young person can secure an enthusiastic new employee for four or more years. Workers with a disability are typically far more loyal to a supportive employer than non-disabled employees.
Immigrants bring cultural understanding and language abilities which can help businesses better serve their customers. Aboriginals represent the fastest growing population of young workers in the province. Initiatives to engage these groups can make a real difference in the long-term success of a business and limit employee turn-over.
The tremendous challenges faced by employers and the best alternatives will be the cornerstone of this year’s Summer Labour Market Conference. Hosted by the BC Labour Market Report and GT Hiring Solutions, conference sponsors include YWCA Metro Vancouver, Nanaimo Youth Services and the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table.
The conference is taking place at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, 6083 McKay Ave., Burnaby, BC, on Thursday July 28th (9:00am-4:30pm) and Friday July 29th (9:00am-4:00pm).
To register or for more information, please visit: www.labourmarketconference.ca.
