The B.C. government released a sweeping report today examining the future workforce requirements for the LNG sector.
According to “B.C. Natural Gas Workforce Strategy and Action Plan” more than 75,000 full-time workers will be needed to staff LNG plants when in operation. Of those 75,000 jobs, 2,400 would be required to operate the LNG plants and 61,700 will be needed to drill, process and transport natural gas to the plants.
During construction of the five facilities – the peak period of which, the report finds, will be in 2016 and 2017 – 60,000 workers will be needed. Of those jobs, 21,6000 will be involved in building the LNG plants and 41,900 will be in industries that provide goods and services to the construction sector.
The numbers are based on five LNG projects being approved.
Fulfilling those requirements, however, will pose challenges. The report outlines six measures to address potential issues with the labour force:
1. publish regular labour market information: this includes workforce projections for the industrial construction sector to illustrate the competition natural gas projects could face;
2. co-ordinate various school programs – one of which the report dubs an entry-level “Working in the Natural Gas Industry” curriculum – to give the local labour force the opportunity to work on LNG projects;
3. develop specialized apprenticeship training programs;
4. train local and regional businesses to know what goods and services the construction and LNG industry will need;
5. offer information sessions in both southern B.C. and across Canada to attract people from outside northern B.C. to work on the projects. The report states, “ A lack of understanding of what northern B.C. has to offers in terms of lifestyle, employment opportunities etc. is a barrier to attracting workers;” and
6. co-ordinate a flexible work schedule that allows people to rotate to different projects to ensure full-time work.
The report was written by the BC Natural Gas Workforce Strategy Committee, a group that includes representatives from the oil and gas sector, First Nations communities and the construction association.
“Over the past year, the committee met extensively with industry partners and First Nations to discuss the tremendous scope of LNG opportunities in B.C. and identify the need for skilled workers during the development and implementation of LNG projects,” said Geoff Stevens, chair of B.C. Natural Gas Workforce Strategy Committee.
“The report outlines our key findings and provides government and its many partners with an overview that will help inform future decision making about LNG in the province.”
In 2012, B.C.’s natural gas industry employed 13,235 people: 8,570 in oil and gas services, 3,680 in exploration and production and 985 in pipeline positions.
Labour Minister Shirley Bond said, “The largest employer in our province’s natural-gas sector, the oil-and gas-services sector, will create the most jobs in B.C. over the next decade and it is crucial that we have a strategy in place to ensure we have skilled workers ready and trained for future growth.
“It is critical to look at all sectors, including LNG, and take action to ensure that skills training is aligned with the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
