A discussion paper prepared for go2 by Grant Thornton Consulting provides an overview of labour shortage issues and how existing provincial and federal foreign worker programs may be adapted to help meet the need for more labour.
Tourism BC has set goals for the industry that include doubling provincial tourism revenues by 2015 to almost $20 billion. For an industry that is already experiencing labour shortages, a steady supply of labour will be an essential component to achieving this goal. It is predicted that approximately 84,000 additional workers will be required by 2015 to adequately meet employer demand in the tourism industry.
Recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult as the competition for workers increases, especially for those with enhanced customer service skills. Peter Larose, Director of Industry Workforce Development for go2, suggests employers need a dual strategy – keep existing workers and expand recruitment efforts to target more under-represented groups such as members of Aboriginal communities, youth at risk, new immigrants, and foreign workers.
Adapting new recruitment and retention strategies will help fill some of the demand for labour but will not solve the problem; additional workers will still be needed. Tourism employers will increasingly need to rely on foreign workers. Many employers utilize the foreign worker programs described below. Some components of these programs work well. However, revisions and/or expansions to these programs by government are required in order to facilitate access to this pool of workers.
- Foreign Worker Program permits foreign workers to obtain a temporary work permit for six months to two years, but this can be a lengthy and costly process. An employer must demonstrate that he or she has been unable to find a qualified Canadian resident before extending an offer to a foreign applicant.
- International Mobile Youth Programs include Working Holiday Program, Student Work Abroad Program, Young Professionals (formerly known as Youth Worker) and Co-Op. These programs are good alternatives to address hiring needs as they do not require a Labour Market Opinion and youth can apply directly without employer’s involvement. The Canadian government has a bilateral agreement with 22 countries allowing the exchange of youth to work and/or study abroad.
- British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program was originally designed to assist employers to fill permanent, full-time highly skilled positions with trained professionals from abroad. The tourism industry, has used this program to recruit foreign chefs and executive hotel managers In 2008 The BC PNP introduced an Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot program that allows eligible employers in certain industries, including tourism, to hire foreign workers in a limited number of entry level occupations.
The adoption of new recruitment and retention strategies and the expansion of foreign worker programs will go a long way in addressing the looming labour shortage. As one of BC’s strongest and fastest growing industries, these efforts are essential and will ensure the continued success of tourism in the province. go2 is working with the industry and other stakeholders to address recruitment and retention issues, including adapting existing programs to make it easier for tourism business to access foreign workers.
To obtain a copy of go2’s discussion paper on foreign worker programs, please view the Research and Reports section of go2hr.ca.
