Prince George

Transportation industry-

The international movement of containerized products to and from Asian markets through the new Port of Prince Rupert is creating new opportunities for this sector in Prince George. Substantial funding has been provided to local infrastructure to improve roads, facilitate airport expansion and to accommodate future growth related to the Port of Prince Rupert and CN Worldwide, North America’s Inland Container Terminal. There are major transportation and warehousing projects underway in the region with $2 billion in proposed expenditures, as well as other large-scale projects in and outside of the region that directly affect this sector.

Prince George’s location ensures that the transportation industry will play a key role in the city’s economy as projects revolutionize the industry’s potential from a regional hub to a global transportation centre, as part of the Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor initiative. Labour demand is projected for specialized logistics positions such as train operators, conductors, train managers, mechanics and engineers.

The Prince George transportation industry has faced a shortage of Class 1, 2 and 5 drivers for a number of years, as well as mechanics (vehicle and heavy duty). Attrition is expected to highly affect driver positions, as it is difficult to recruit younger workers for this job. Local training services are available, but do not cover all job category needs. Companies have begun to recruit retired drivers and are actively networking with employment service providers to develop training programs.

In particular, there is high demand for owner-operators, heavy duty equipment mechanics and motor vehicle mechanics, though direct skill sets are not always sufficient. Employers also require customer service/people skills and a commitment to do the job well.

Forest industry:

The forest industry in Prince George is undergoing a transition. The Mountain Pine Beetle, strong Canadian dollar, 15% lumber export tax, downturn of the U.S. housing and credit markets and speculation regarding the effects of the carbon tax have all contributed to decreased demand and subsequent lower lumber prices.

Despite these factors, Prince George is experiencing a shortage of forest technologists and professionals, which is expected to continue when lumber demand and prices rise. By 2011, there will be a shortage of approximately 400 forestry professionals and technicians in the province resulting from retirement and low educational enrollment rates and a decrease in the amount of training programs available. Demand for forest-related engineers (civil, bridge) is also steadily increasing.

Current and projected demands in forestry include:

• Operators of logging machinery, chainsaws and skidders, and silviculture workers
• Natural and applied sciences: forestry technicians, professional foresters, etc.
• Trades, transportation and equipment operators: drivers, heavy equipment operators, etc.
• Business, finance and administration positions
• Management positions

It is expected that the fledgling bioenergy industry will develop greatly over the next decade, requiring a varied set of labour skills including operational, maintenance, financial and project management.

Value-Added Wood

The pulp and paper sector has been enjoying a fairly robust level of activity lately due to robust demand. As long as the market maintains its strength, particularly on the non-newsprint side of the industry, consistent labour demands are anticipated.

Mining / Oil & Gas Industry –

The increasing demand for natural resources around the world has resulted in increasing interest in mineral, oil and gas reserves in the region. The combination of tax relief, research capabilities (UNBC) and access to trained labour (CNC), are attracting tremendous interest from the industry.

Due to the MPB, companies can more efficiently scan for resources, leading to increased exploration and open-mine development in the Central-North area of British Columbia. A number of these ventures will impact the labour market in Prince George not only through direct employment, but through service provision by local companies.

For example, one of the projects with major significance to Prince George is Terrane Metals’ copper-and-gold Mount Milligan Mine (North of Fort St. James), which, once production begins, will employ up to 400 people. During the 2 year construction phase, the company will employ up to 700 people. Mining will begin in late 2011 or early 2012 with a life expectation of 15.3 years. Therefore, there is projected positive impact of 17 to 18 years on the regional economy with an estimated annual economic impact of approximately $85M.

Labour needs will range from trades to professional services, and are projected to include the following:

• Miners, drillers.
• Trades, transportation & equipment operation: truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, millwrights or welders.
• Business, finance, administration and applied sciences: geologists, technicians, engineers and computer scientists.
• Management

Manufacturing Industry –

The Manufacturing sector in Prince George is one of the five largest sectors by employment in Prince George, representing about 16% of people employed. There are 21 categories of which Wood Product Manufacturing, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing and Machinery Manufacturing represent approximately 50% of employment.

The main manufacturing activity in Prince George has traditionally been wood products manufacturing currenlty enjoying increasing demand from Asian and European markets. Innovation and technological advances as a result of collaboration between government, academia and industry also provide opportunities for the sector. Additionally, the presence of a significant export-driven wood products manufacturing sector in Prince George catalyzes many opportunities in other areas of manufacturing.

Manufacturing sector labour demands include:

• Contract administrators
• Steel detailers
• Estimators
• Journeymen
• Sheet metal mechanics

The construction industry represents 5.5% of the employed population in Prince George, with a recorded 2500 people employed in 2006. Despite its small share of the local labour market, this industry is very important for the creation of the infrastructure required for further economic development. Among the local firms, 73% employ fewer than 10 people, 22% have between 10 and 19 employees, and only 5% have 50 or more employees.

Labour needs in this industry vary constantly depending on timing of projects. Positions that are typically difficult to fill include:

• Labourers
• Trades, transportation & equipment operation: framers, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, cabinetmakers, painters, qualified equipment operators (such as machinery operators, excavator operators, truck drivers, packing operators, screed men, asphalt roller operators, asphalt rake men, grader operators)
• Natural and Applied Sciences: architects, engineers, construction estimators, building inspectors
• Business, finance, administration
• Project managers, supervisors, estimators, contractors and AutoCAD technicians (and other positions related to drafting and designing)

Information Technology Industry –

The Information Technology industry is playing a key role in the diversification of Prince George’s economy. As it develops, this sector can become a significant source of employment for the local community. It is currently dominated by a number of small (5 to 10 people employees) and micro level (less than 5 employees) companies. Many of these companies project a shortage of senior IT specialists. Other shortages identified within this industry by research conducted by the Innovation Resource Centre in 2007 included “technical people, management, marketing and sales workers, and IT workers as well as engineers”.