A key component of the BC Skills Force Initiative is the focus group sessions involving participants from small and medium-sized businesses operating in rural BC. Fourteen communities in Southern British Columbia have hosted a focus group session. An additional ten communities in Northern British Columbia have also been chosen:

Dawson Creek Fort St. John Houston Quesnel Prince George

Prince Rupert Smithers Terrace Vanderhoof Williams Lake

Click on the communities above to view their Focus Group's discussion summary.

A broad cross section of the business community are asked to participate in the focus group sessions, and the mix of participants comprise representatives from the following sectors: Hospitality Tourism Forestry Mining, Oil & Gas Manufacturing Business Services High Technology Construction Retail Health and Social Services

The format for these focus group sessions involves a presentation to the business owners, which provides a macro level overview of the skills shortage issue in BC. The presentation also includes a perspective on the projected implications of an aging workforce.

The focus group sessions are designed to actively engage the business community in the process of identifying the challenges they are facing in accessing skilled labour.  It also  provides a forum for them to offer their input on potential strategies to address the skill shortage and aging workforce issues. Businesses are also asked for their views on how training institutions and/or other small business service providers might work more closely with the business community to address these issues. The input received from the participants contributes to the development of a survey questionnaire, which is distributed to thousands of businesses in BC.