Competitiveness and Productivity

British Columbia’s economy is performing at an exceptional level. We have the lowest level of unemployment (4.8 per cent), and the lowest level of youth unemployment in 30 years. Growth in GDP for 2006 is estimated to have been 3.9 per cent. In the past year, there was over $19 billion in construction activity, the highest level of activity in B.C. history.³

But our economic growth and demographic realities are creating challenges for us. Over the next 10 years, British Columbia is expected to have one million job openings. That’s 380,000 more job openings than there will be young people graduating from our high schools. British Columbia’s robust economic growth and record low employment rate have also created a shortage of highly skilled people that businesses need to grow and expand.

Education and literacy are the foundation of success at school, at work and throughout our lives. Our economy is increasingly becoming knowledge based. To continue to be competitive in the world, we need to provide British Columbians with the opportunity to excel in terms of skills, training and knowledge. Enhancing literacy and people’s education are paths to both personal and provincial success.

British Columbia students currently rank third in international reading assessments. But one million adult British Columbians — 40 per cent of all adults — do not have a high degree of competency with everyday reading,⁴ 25 per cent of children entering kindergarten arrive without the necessary skills to be successful, and 20 per cent of B.C. students are not completing high school.

British Columbia’s children need to arrive at school ready to learn and with a strong start to their reading and learning skills. British Columbia has launched a series of StrongStart centres, and will open more in the years ahead. StrongStart centres are free early learning programs for preschool-aged children who attend with their families and caregivers. Qualified early childhood educators lead literacy activities such as story telling, music and crafts to help children grow linguistically, physically and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like environment. These centres are located in schools with under utilized space and are part of government’s plan to improve literacy skills so that B.C. children have the best possible start in school and in life. To address the need for improved literacy, the government has launched ReadNow BC, a comprehensive $27 million literacy plan to help British Columbians of all ages improve their reading skills.

For British Columbia to continue to excel as a province we need to have a modern responsive public education system. Government is taking bold steps to ensure that the education system provides students with the necessary skills to succeed in a knowledge-based economy that is increasingly subject to globalization. The education system must meet the needs of all kinds of learners so that all British Columbians are in a position to succeed, through the K – 12 system, and throughout their lives.

British Columbia’s school boards will focus more on education so that they improve student education outcomes for all learners, and take a more active role in lifelong learning. Schools will enhance choices for students, such as providing year round or virtual programs, and there will be provincial schools of excellence. Students will know that they will receive a good education so that they can be successful in life.

To ensure that all students benefit from the ability to go to school, B.C. is putting in place a Children’s Education Fund. Starting in 2007, $1,000 will be put into the fund for every newborn in B.C. for their post-secondary education. The fund will grow with interest through their lives and contribute to their choice of learning after high-school graduation.

There is a strong link between a strong post-secondary education system and a strong provincial economy and society. To ensure we have a post-secondary system that is able to meet our future needs, the government’s Campus 2020 review will shape the vision and goals for B.C.’s post-secondary system.

In addition to examining the structure and operation of the post-secondary system, more post-secondary education seats need to be available. 25,000 new seats will be available in post-secondary institutions in B.C., of which 2,500 will be post-graduate seats to ensure that highly qualified personnel are available in the province to feed our knowledge-based economy.

The need for skilled labour has never been greater in B.C., and its availability is a prerequisite for economic growth. Employment in skilled labour positions is no longer secondary to university graduate positions. The Province will add 7,000 new apprenticeship spaces by 2010 to ensure that additional skills labour training is available. In partnership with the private sector, the number of industry training organizations will also be increased through the Industry Training Authority.

Immigration will be an increasingly important source of labour in B.C. Each year, approximately 40,000 immigrants from many different parts of the world move to British Columbia. People from the rest of Canada and around the world are attracted to B.C. for its access to key markets, technology, research and development and quality of life. With four out of five immigrants coming from Asia, B.C. has a strong connection to the Asia-Pacific. This connection not only enriches the multicultural nature of our province, it creates opportunities to build relationships, boost international trade and create investment opportunities.

B.C.’s aim is to increase recruitment efforts and to increase the number of skilled professionals and business investors who can obtain permanent resident status. We will promote the province’s advantages and opportunities and increase international marketing activities to attract qualified business immigrants, expand the Provincial Nominee Program and work with our federal counterparts to reduce processing time for applicants.

Enabling and expediting the settlement of immigrants directly benefits immigrants as well as their local communities. Accordingly, the Province is building community capacity to support new immigrants and refugees through language training, settlement and adaptation services.