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The Patrika
Friday, October 14th, 2016
B.C. and aerospace industries team up to meet labour needs The British Columbia government announced today an investment of more than $55,000 to help identify labour needs in the aerospace industry. Today, in celebration of Manufacturing Week in B.C., government announced a new partnership with the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), which will lead the BC Aerospace Labour Market Industry Engagement Project. B.C.’s aerospace sector is the thirdlargest in Canada generating approximately $1.3 billion of British Columbia’s gross domestic product, which is why it is critical for the sector to have the skilled workforce it needs to thrive in B.C.’s economy. The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada- Pacific division (AIACP) will work with and bring together various organizations that contribute to B.C.’s aerospace sector to identify its unique labour needs, as well as factors that shape its workforce. The
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aerospace sub-sectors engaged in the project include: Space and remote sensing In-service support (ISS), and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) Aviation training and simulation Special mission aircraft Advanced manufacturing This project is the first phase of a potentially broader initiative that will help ensure that B.C.’s aerospace sector has the necessary skilled workforce to continue to grow. This partnership is funded through the Sector Labour Market Partnerships program under the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement. The program helps employers understand and respond to changing labour-market demands, ensuring that training and education programs in B.C. are aligned with industry’s labour-market needs and priorities.