KAMLOOPS – TRU business students Lindsay Allan, Viningston Fernando, Robbie Kelm, Jessica Saavedra and Jaime Wenselaers were at the city’s Development Services boardroom today to present their Phase I Kamloops Skills Study report to Venture Kamloops.
Based on a survey conducted across all industries in Kamloops this past fall, the study, a joint project of Venture Kamloops and the university’s School of Business & Economics and conducted by TRU fourth-year human resources students, aims to help employers in the Kamloops area deal with skills shortages, both current and anticipated over the next five years.
“I am pleased that our students not only had this opportunity to enhance their business education with hands-on research, but were able at the same time to help the local economy,” said TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Roger Barnsley.
The students’ faculty sponsor, Richard Roy, agreed, adding, “They didn’t offer this kind of opportunity where I went to school.”
The baseline research identifies current and projected skilled labour shortages by major employers, industry sectors that will experience a skills shortage, the number of employees and skill sets needed, good sources from which to attract labour and future labour market growth projections. It will be used to assist Venture Kamloops in the creation of a comprehensive workforce development strategy to assist local employers in finding needed labour.
“Venture Kamloops values its partnership with Thompson Rivers University on this project,” said Venture Kamloops Economic Development Manager Anita Grover. “We were very impressed with the quality of work done on this project by the students, and plan to share these results with potential immigrants in the UK and the Netherlands this coming February and March at international immigration fairs.”
The report, which cross-referenced survey findings with data from past labour studies, came to some strong conclusions. It found that almost all industries are facing huge demands for employees within the next five years, and identified trends affecting the Kamloops workforce, such as changes in unemployment, the aging workforce and population growth. Kamloops’ economy has been experiencing steady growth in recent years, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of full-time jobs available as well as a declining unemployment rate.
The report shows increases across all sectors, with new positions forecast for mining, retail, education, construction, transportation, professionals, finance, accommodations and food services, communications, forestry, health care, manufacturing and crown corporations.
Venture Kamloops will conduct Phase II, which aims to develop a workforce development strategy. It is expected to be complete by the end of July 2007.
For more information:
Richard Roy (TRU Business) 250-371-5803 or by email.
Anita Grover (Manager, Business Development) 250-828-6818 or by email.
Lindsay Allan (student) at 250-320-8172 or Jaime Wenselaers (student) at 250-574-1237.
To view detailed results of Kamloops’ Labour Market Study-Phase I go to: www.venturekamloops.com
