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JUNE 2016
MANUFACTURING Manufacturing Jobs Pay 15 Per Cent Higher Than National Average With more people leaving jobs in manufacturing industry leaders are looking for innovative ways to find new workers
Universal Packaging team with Steve Pelkey, CEO holding Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. CREDIT:UNIVERSAL PACKAGING
BETH HENDRY-YIM
B
C’s manufacturing sector comes in as the fourth largest in Canada generating nearly $14.3 billion in gross domestic product. The numbers, from the latest provincial report on manufacturing, show it as a key sector, employing a significant percentage of BC’s labour force with 161,000 workers. Manufactured goods make up the largest component of BC exports, at 63 per cent heading to a global marketplace that includes the United States, China, Japan and Europe. Although wood product manufacturing remains a leader in BC, other companies are commanding their market share by developing new products and innovative techniques and adding design and post-sale service to their process. The industry is made up of a diverse group of companies in areas such as apparel, food, amusement park e q u ipment a nd biome d ic a l manufacturing. U n i ve r s a l P a c k a g i n g i s a 31-year-old company located in
Stephen Peel worked his way from machinist to Vice President of Ironside Designs CREDIT:IRONSIDE DESIGNS
the North Okanagan that provides screen printing for wine, beer and spirt bottles. Its process has made it the largest bottle printer in North America to these industries. “Manufacturing in general provides a fair amount of stability in jobs and in the companies,” said Steve Pelkey, CEO of Universal, “Manufacturing companies usually pay employees better than the retail or service industry and there are more opportunities
for in-house training, career advancement and higher starting wages.” Manufacturing is a complex and multi-level industry with participation from a variety of sectors that supply raw materials, energy, equipment and human capital. According to the province’s profile It supports the creation of high paying jobs such as in engineering and consulting, software design, skilled trades as well as those in production
plants. Stephen Peel, vice president Ironside Design Manufacturing Inc, and interim vice president for Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) BC’s Advisory Board and Chair of CME BC’s Policy and Public Affairs Committee, said that there is a full spectrum of career opportunities outside traditional machinists and welders, and that youth and SEE MANUFACTURING | PAGE 38