Numerous surveys suggest that employers are having a hard time finding qualified staff. But not enough is being done to help tap the persistently large number of young people entering the workforce. Limited job prospects are increasing disenchantment among the province's employable youth.
According to Statistics Canada's April labour force survey, the participation rate among job seekers under 25 in B.C. fell to a decade low of 60.6% from an annual high of 67.9% in 2008. The problem has been growing, especially in the past six months, as fewer young people have bothered to look for a job in this province.
The growing proportion of discouraged job seekers is most pronounced among young men. Only 57.5% were looking for a job in April, compared with 63.8% this time last year.
However, participation rates among young women remain above 63%, although they're still below the 68% participation rate in 2008.
The drop in B.C.'s unemployment in April could be attributed primarily to the drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 10.5% from 14.1% in March. But, given the drop in the number of young men looking for a work, the decline could be more statistical than real.
High youth unemployment has remained a persistent challenge, and one that's most pronounced when compared with B.C.'s neighbouring province. The unemployment rate for non-students in Wild rose country has hovered between 6.8% and 8.6% since December. Meanwhile, B.C.'s non-student jobless rate has ranged from a low of 9.8% to a high of 16.5% in January.
If more isn't done to support younger job seekers, B.C. could face an even more severe brain drain in the coming decade when more baby-boomers retire. Not only will there be a bigger talent and experience shortage, but also a population that's aging more rapidly as the number of seniors balloons in B.C. •
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