We hear about the economy in some way every day on TV or radio, or in the newspapers. Whether it’s a story about record corporate profits, an established business having to close, unemployment, or the high technology industry concerned about a shortage of skilled workers, it may seem that there is already enough information available on our economic affairs. So why do we need a book specifically on the British Columbia economy? The objective in producing A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market was to provide in one source an engaging and understandable overview of the provincial economy for non-economists. Many career counsellors, teachers and other career practitioners recognize that, with all of the changes that are occurring in the economy and our workplaces, they need to be more knowledgeable about the economy to address the career development needs of their clients and students.
This book provides basic information on the industrial building blocks of BC’s economy and the characteristics of employment in these, including projected job growth. It details provincial industries with an emphasis on their human resource side. Economic terms are explained and examples provided, so that a background in economics is not necessary. The book also provides a perspective on where the province has come from historically. This is to help provide a context for where BC’s industries are at in the mid-1990s and where they are expected to be going into the next century.
A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market may be of interest to students, the unemployed and others who may be exploring the world of work, planning their educational path, or contemplating a career change. Because it provides a unique compilation of information and statistics not available elsewhere, this publication may also be a useful resource for students in academic courses, and a helpful starting point for professional analysts and planners.
The need for this publication was recognized when the national publication Making Career Sense of Labour Market Information was being written. Making Career Sense provides a valuable introduction for career practitioners and teachers on the major issues and trends in the Canadian economy and labour market. However, reflecting the fact that workplaces are generally local and not national, it was recognized that career practitioners and teachers in BC also need specific up-to-date information on provincial industries and their labour markets. A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market was produced to complement Making Career Sense of LMI. Another publication, Work Futures: British Columbia Occupational Outlooks 1996 (due out in November 1996), will provide one more important perspective on provincial labour market information by detailing BC occupations, including their current situation and their future prospects.
A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market is a tribute to the thorough knowledge of the BC economy and exceptional writing skills of the author, Lillian Hallin. Lillian, an economist with BC STATS, has authored a number of publications on the provincial economy. She also wrote the Introduction section in the British Columbia Regional Index, which was the inspiration for A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market.
An Advisory Committee of career practitioners and economists provided valuable insights, as well as advice on the content and structure of the publication. Members in this Committee included Bryan Johnston, Kathy Stephens and Sheila Walker from the Ministry of Education, Skills and Training, Steve Miller from BC STATS, Diane Alfred from Human Resources Development Canada, Dawn McCooey from McCooey Employment Consulting, Jennifer Margison from the University of Victoria Student Employment Centre, and Sherry Dubetz from Mount Douglas High School.
A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market is the result of a partnership between BC STATS, the Ministry of Education, Skills and Training (MoEST), and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). It was initiated by the Joint Committee for Enhanced Labour Market Information, which includes representation by the Ministry of Employment and Investment, the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism & Culture, the BC Labour Force Development Board, and the Open Learning Agency in addition to MoEST and HRDC. One objective of this Committee is to support the development of new labour market information products for career practitioners and teachers.