Changed recently
- BC youth unemployment, latest month is now 13.2 percent. Source
- BC Labour Market Outlook, total projected job openings 2025-2035 is now 1,052,000 job openings. Source
- BC Labour Market Outlook, share of openings from retirements is now 65 percent (687,000 of 1,052,000 openings) from retirements; 35 percent (365,000) from economic growth. Source
- BC PNP priority occupation categories (Care, Build, Innovate) is now Care: 36 priority occupations in health care, education, childcare and veterinary care; Build: 9 priority skilled trades for infrastructure/construction; Innovate: High Economic Impact stream for top professionals and entrepreneurs, no fixed occupation list. Source
- BC compulsory trades under Skilled Trades Certification (STC) is now Compulsory trades: Construction Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Powerline Technician, Pipefitter/Steamfitter, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker, Gasfitter Class A & B, and Plumber (effective August 18, 2025); Mobile Crane Operator and Tower Crane Operator become compulsory July 5, 2027. Source
- BC trades training funding (Employer Training Grant, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Apprentice Loan) is now BC Employer Training Grant: up to $300,000 per employer per year, 80% of eligible training cost up to $10,000 per employee; federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant: $1,000/year/level, max $2,000; Canada Apprentice Loan: up to $4,000 interest-free per period of technical training. Source
| Fact | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Labour Market Outlook, total projected job openings 2025-2035 | 1,052,000 job openings | 2025-10-01 | WorkBC, B.C.'s Labour Market Outlook ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BC compulsory trades under Skilled Trades Certification (STC) | Compulsory trades: Construction Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Powerline Technician, Pipefitter/Steamfitter, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker, Gasfitter Class A & B, and Plumber (effective August 18, 2025); Mobile Crane Operator and Tower Crane Operator become compulsory July 5, 2027 | 2025-08-18 | SkilledTradesBC, Skilled Trades Certification (Compulsory Trades) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Basic Security Training (BST) — required for a full BC security worker licence | A full BC security guard licence requires a Basic Security Training Certificate issued by the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), a 40-hour course per JIBC's own program; JIBC stopped issuing BST certificates after December 15, 2025 under a program transition | 2026-09-08 | Province of British Columbia, Security worker training requirements ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| FOODSAFE Level 1 (BC food handler certification) | One-day (7-8h) in-person or ~6h online course; online cost around $49.95 (varies by provider); certificate valid 5 years; required for food premises operator plus at least one certified person per shift under the Food Premises Regulation | 2026-09-07 | BC Centre for Disease Control / FOODSAFE Secretariat, FOODSAFE Level 1 course ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| HCA recognized program length | Varies by school; commonly cited as approximately 7 months (some programs 745 hours: 37 weeks full-time or up to 135 weeks part-time) | 2026-09-07 | Choose2Care.ca (BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry public site), General HCA Information ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Security worker licence fee and term | Licence application/fee approximately $100-101 for a 5-year term; provincial exam fee approximately $50; BST course tuition roughly $300-550; criminal record check approximately $30; total typical cost $400-700; temporary Security Worker Under Supervision licence $60 for 90 days | 2026-09-07 | Province of British Columbia, Security worker licence (Security Programs Division) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Serving It Right (BC liquor server certification) | Course is free (online or self-study manual); exam costs $40, includes 3 attempts, pass mark 80% (28 of 35 questions); certification required to serve or sell liquor in BC | 2026-09-08 | Responsible Service BC, What is Serving It Right? ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BC trades training funding (Employer Training Grant, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Canada Apprentice Loan) | BC Employer Training Grant: up to $300,000 per employer per year, 80% of eligible training cost up to $10,000 per employee; federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant: $1,000/year/level, max $2,000; Canada Apprentice Loan: up to $4,000 interest-free per period of technical training | 2026-09-08 | Province of British Columbia, B.C. Employer Training Grant ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Class 1 (commercial truck) Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) | 140 hours total (theory, in-yard, behind-the-wheel, air brakes, 6h flexible practical) since Oct 2021; must be taken at an ICBC-approved driving school; tuition examples $15,500 (10-week full program) or $1,195 (theory-only component) | 2021-10-01 | Province of British Columbia, Mandatory training will improve safety for commercial drivers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Forklift (lift truck) operator training requirement | OHS Regulation Part 16 requires lift truck operators to be trained to CSA Standard B335; no certificate is required, but refresher training is required at least every 3 years; WorkSafeBC does not set or publish a training cost | 2026-09-08 | WorkSafeBC, Forklift operator training ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Funding for Class 1 MELT training | WorkBC Employment Services tuition support up to $7,500 for eligible occupations/sectors; StrongerBC future skills grant up to $3,500; BC Trucking Association MELT Grant Opportunity for employer members (funding allocation-dependent, not always open) | 2026-09-07 | Province of British Columbia, Funding and Grant Opportunities for Class 1 MELT ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Health Career Access Program (HCAP) — paid HCA training route | Paid entry-level hire (health care support worker) with province-funded tuition, books, and wages/stipend during a 20-24 month accelerated training program to become an HCA or mental-health/addictions worker; requires 12-month return-of-service after certifying; only open to those without a completed HCA certificate | 2026-09-07 | Province of British Columbia, Health Career Access Program ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| StrongerBC future skills grant (trades/HCA/other short-term training funding) | Up to $3,500 lifetime maximum for eligible short-term training at 24 public post-secondary institutions; open to BC residents 19+, no financial-need test; over 250 eligible programs in 2026/27; 16,500+ people funded since fall 2023, saving $40M+ | 2026-01-01 | WorkBC, StrongerBC future skills grant ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BC Labour Market Outlook, share of openings from retirements | 65 percent (687,000 of 1,052,000 openings) from retirements; 35 percent (365,000) from economic growth | 2025-10-01 | WorkBC, B.C.'s Labour Market Outlook ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BC PNP priority occupation categories (Care, Build, Innovate) | Care: 36 priority occupations in health care, education, childcare and veterinary care; Build: 9 priority skilled trades for infrastructure/construction; Innovate: High Economic Impact stream for top professionals and entrepreneurs, no fixed occupation list | 2026-04-23 | WelcomeBC, BC Provincial Nominee Program ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BC youth unemployment, latest month | 13.2 percent | 2026-08-01 | Province of British Columbia, Minister's statement on August Labour Force Survey results ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| BuildForce BC construction outlook, workers needed and retirements | 48,200 new workers needed 2026-2035; 46,700 (22 percent of current workforce) expected to retire; 40,800 workers under 30 expected via local recruitment; potential shortfall of 7,400 workers by 2035 without more recruitment | 2026-07-20 | BuildForce Canada, Residential construction demands slow in British Columbia to 2035 (LMI 2026-2035) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants (CPSI) program | Free program (federal/provincial funded) helping skilled immigrants get BC licences/credential recognition, skills/course funding, career counselling and job-search support; 3 streams: priority occupations, regulated occupations recertification, and unregulated-occupation upgrading | 2026-09-07 | Immigrant Services Society of BC / WelcomeBC, Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| WorkBC / community bridging supports for internationally trained workers | WorkBC connects newcomers with FAST (Facilitating Access to Skilled Talent — free skills assessments for internationally trained workers) and ASCEND (Applied Skills Curriculum to Empower Newcomer Development), an eLearning workplace-readiness program | 2026-09-08 | WorkBC, People New to B.C. ✓ 2026-09-09 |
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