Pilot project helps Whistler employers address skills shortages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2009

VANCOUVER, BC. ---- While all the indicators are telling us our economy is struggling, there are signs the turnaround may not be far off. And when that happens, we need to deal with the labour shortages still facing many of British Columbia’s key industries, including trades, construction and hospitality.

An aging population and declining birthrates are just some of the reasons why those shortages haven’t gone away, despite the current economic slowdown.

For many employers, one solution to the labour crisis is to hire skilled, internationally-trained workers. Last year, to make it easier for business owners to access the information they needed to hire foreign-trained workers, with funding from the federal and provincial governments, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce published an employer’s guide, “Quick Links to Hiring Foreign Workers,” that was distributed to local Chamber of Commerce offices and made available online.

This year, as a follow-up to the guide, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of the Foreign Worker Resource Network to provide more intensive, one-on-one support to employers who are interested in hiring internationally-trained workers.

The Whistler Chamber of Commerce has been selected as one of four organizations to participate in the six month pilot project which is designed to provide employers with easy access to the information they need to recruit, train and retain foreign workers.

For more information, please call Taralyn Day, Member Services Coordinator, Whistler Chamber of Commerce Tel. (604) 932-5922 ext. 26.

Contact:
Paul Wiest, Project Manager
Foreign Worker Resource Network
Tel. (250) 354-1213
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