In recent years, numerous reports and policy papers detailing the issues and implications of a skilled labour shortage have been produced by both the federal and provincial governments, as well as by industry associations and labour organizations. All of these reports suggest the skills shortages that are being encountered today are not cyclical and the result of a normal ebb and flow of business activity, but are more fundamental and structural in nature. This is owing to a new economic reality which sees us dealing with a complex mix of forces including demographic change, technological change and the rapid growth of new industries that, more than ever, rely on a supply of knowledge workers. Skills shortages are expected to have a profound negative impact on our economy.

In light of these issues, the Community Futures Development Association of B.C. (CFDA) and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce decided to combine efforts and investigate the issue of skills shortages and its impact on small business. Their goal was to connect directly with B.C. businesses to get their perspective on the issue and to engage them in the process of helping to develop potential solutions.

The approach taken for this initiative was to consult with B.C. businesses, at the ground level, within each of the following economic regions of rural B.C.: Vancouver Island-Coast; Thompson-Okanagan; and Kootenays. This was achieved by conducting both focus group sessions and telephone surveys within each region.

The BC Skills Force Initiative Final Report reflects the views of the small business owners who participated in this project.

The Skills Force project was undertaken by conducting both focus group sessions and telephone surveys within each southern region of the province. The telephone survey work was undertaken in June and July 2005 in conjunction with Internet surveys sent out to over 10,000 BC Chamber and Community Futures Development Association members. Over a four-week period the responses of 1,557 small businesses were recorded.

Fourteen focus group sessions where held involving 239 participants from small businesses in the following communities: Courtenay, Cranbrook, Duncan, Fernie, Grand Forks, Kamloops, Kelowna, Merritt, Nanaimo, Nelson, Osoyoos, Princeton, Sechelt, and Squamish.

For detailed information on the BC Skills Force Initiative: Read the Backgrounder