One million job openings expected for B.C. in next decade

• Health care, social assistance and education most in demand.
• Do people want to be in health care sector?
• 63 per cent of jobs to be filled for retirees
• 37 per cent created by economic growth

The latest labour market outlook for British Columbia shows nearly 80 per cent of job openings over the next decade will require some level of post-secondary education, reflecting the changing nature of the economy.

The outlook released Monday by the provincial government forecasts more than one million job openings in the province in the next 10 years, with about 63 per cent of those replacing people who retire.

The jobs ministry said in a news release that the remaining 37 per cent of jobs will be created by economic growth and the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

It said the health care, social assistance and education sectors are expected to generate some of the largest employment in services, such as counselling, child protection and community housing.

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, was asked during a media briefing if recruiting for and retaining healthcare jobs would be a challenge, given the extreme pressures workers have been put under during the COVID pandemic. Several anti-vaccination and anti-mandate protests around the province and country have targeted health care workers, causing concerns that people may be discouraged from entering the profession.

“I would say to anyone … there’s huge opportunities in the care economy, and that’s a fringe group. Overwhelmingly, the majority of British Columbians and Canadians, we support our health care workers and we support the incredibly important work that they do.”

Kahlon said the province would support people who choose this career "one hundred per cent," because of the need for people to take care of each other more than ever.

Science and technology jobs will also be in high demand, as will openings in skilled trades ranging from cooks and mechanics to construction workers and hairstylists.

The ministry said those 29 years old or younger entering the workforce for the first time will be the largest source of B.C.'s new labour supply with new immigrants accounting for 34 per cent of workers.

With files from The Canadian Press