![\"A](\"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/images\/bc-skilled-worker.png\" "\\"Report")
<\/p>\nA key trade path between Western Canada and Asia could be compromised by staff shortages unless nearly 110,000 new skilled workers are found between now and 2025, according to a new report.<\/p>\n
British Columbia will lose thousands of workers through retirement in the transport and construction industries, key positions in the maintenance of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative.<\/p>\n
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The Labour Market Outlook<\/a> report by the Asia-Pacific Gateway Skills Table says the shortfall will need to be made up mainly by new Canadian university graduates (47 per cent), but also by skilled worker immigration.<\/p>\n The report concludes: \u201cThis is the first time the APG forecast has shown fewer jobs at the B.C. level for any of the sectors.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this could be mitigated by investments in the future that are not yet planned, it is important to recognize that this is a potential shift in the long term expectation for the construction sector and managers as well as 22 of the 52 occupations in B.C.\u2019s Asia Pacific Gateway.\u201d<\/p>\n The report also concludes that Lower Mainland and northern B.C. will have the most difficulties filling positions, especially between 2019 and 2023.<\/p>\n Streamlining the process of bringing in skilled workers is a key focus of the current federal government review<\/a> of Canada\u2019s immigration system.<\/p>\n B.C. Premier Christy Clark has led calls<\/a> for caps on Provincial Nominee Programs<\/a> to be lifted so that Canada\u2019s individual economies can bring in skilled workers specific to their needs.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s premiers feel they are too often fielding complaints from businesses<\/a> saying they need more freedom to hire from abroad.<\/p>\n The federal government has already reached agreement<\/a> with the four provinces of Atlantic Canada \u2013 Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island \u2013 to welcome at least 2,000 more skilled worker immigrants per year from 2017. The quota could rise if the scheme is deemed a success.<\/p>\n The likelihood is a similar program could be launched in Western Canada following the federal review.<\/p>\n There was also recently a separate call from provincial premiers and territorial leaders to be given the same power<\/a> to set their immigration policies as Quebec.<\/p>\n The French-speaking province has its own immigration programs and quotas as a result of the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord.<\/p>\n Interested employers:\u00a0<\/strong>Kindly\u00a0contact us<\/a>\u00a0here to receive further information.<\/p>\n Interested candidates:<\/strong>\u00a0Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our\u00a0free on-line evaluation<\/a>. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.<\/p>\n Recent News Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\nImmigration Review<\/h3>\n