With over 10,000 companies facilitating 100,000 jobs, B.C.’s technology sector employs more people than forestry, mining, oil & gas and utilities combined and continues to be one of the top five contributors to the provincial economy. An additional 83,000 jobs are expected to be added by 2027, many of which are roles that don’t even exist yet. Future employees need to be highly-skilled and adaptable in this rapidly changing business world. JABC TechWorks was launched in 2017 to encourage youth to consider their education choices as they approach their senior years and inspire them to consider a career in B.C.’s technology sector and beyond.
We were pleased to expand the program to Vancouver Island in late 2018 and then to the Okanagan Valley in early 2020. The suspension of in-school instruction in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that JABC had to transition this program into a fully virtual one for 2021. JABC launched TechWorks 2.0 on March 2, 2021 where over 2,000 students from urban, rural and Indigenous communities joined us online to connect with industry speakers. A second program was held on May 12, 2021 where another 2,500 students joined in the fun. A total of 4,500 students across B.C. attended TechWorks 2.0 over the four 75 minute sessions offered, quadrupling our reach over the previous year.
JABC TECHWORKS INTRODUCES B.C. YOUTH TO THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE
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