Go West! The Hottest BC Jobs Through 2010
When Vancouver won the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, BC's youth were awarded the opportunity of a lifetime: jobs, jobs, and more jobs! A recent report indicates there will be a demand for 913,000 new jobs. Are you up for the challenge?

Baby Boomers, that huge demographic of the population born between 1947 and 1966, will be nearing retirement by the year 2010. But an aging workforce isn't your only advantage. A predicted shortage of skilled workers will be spurred by several factors:

• Job vacancies created by retiring workers
• Increased demand for goods and services
• Greater skills needed to do the job

Generation Next: The young and the rich?
Being of the right demographic, however, does not guarantee you your dream job. You will still need the right skills. In non-trades positions, the ability to work with computers and good written and verbal communication skills will be key to your success, but a huge requirement will be a need for strong leadership skills.

Take advantage of this growing need by upgrading your IT skills or better yet by getting certified. Whether you are a creative person and interested in design, or you are a right-brain thinker better suited to programming or the ‘back end’ of computing and information processing, there is a fit for you in technology. UC411 has over 200 post-secondary institutions that will prepare you for your hi-tech career. Just click the link, and explore your options!

Where will you be needed most?
The latest estimates show the hottest job opportunities will be in the trades. However, faced with a looming skills shortage, many industry representatives think there will be a widespread need for younger workers with the right skills to fill a wide variety of job openings in industries like utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing, public administration, health care, and education (sectors in which Baby Boomers are widely employed are likely to retire early).

According to a recent report released by the Canadian Homebuilders Association of BC, there are not enough skilled trades people available to complete their current projects. And they say it's only going to get worse. The most sought-after trades are framers and formers, followed by carpenters, drywallers, plumbers, electricians, siders, and roofers.

How do you go about creating the most effective job search strategy?
You need a game plan. You need information. When it comes to choosing any career path, whether that means pursuing an apprenticeship, attending private or community college or university, you're looking at a one to four-year educational commitment. Trades training takes time.

There are over 100 different trades in the province, with apprentices earning about 50 percent of a journeyperson's wage and are in school for four to 10 weeks a year. Apprenticeships include 26 weeks of in-school training plus you must pass an interprovincial standards exam to receive a Certificate of Qualification with an interprovincial Red Seal endorsement.

Under the new Industry Training Authority Act, a new modular approach to apprenticeship training is being introduced. This pilot project allows apprenticing students to specialize in one field over a shorter period of time, which will then include more on-site training and hands-on experience. Students also have the option of going back to complete other modules or the full apprenticeship.

Knowing where to look for the right educational program or the most suitable career planning resource is an important step toward achieving your long-term career goals.

Acquiring the right skills
Training in these professions is provided by a multitude of colleges across Canada, including Selkirk College, North Island College, College of the North Atlantic, Thompson Rivers University, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and at Nova Scotia Community College’s 11 campuses. For a complete list of schools in your area, just visit UC411.com and search by your program of interest and the province you would like to study in, for a complete list of schools that can help you get trained, and get going!