This article is the first in a five-part series exploring the key issues in BCREA’s election platform, aimed at addressing BC’s housing challenges. The focus of this article is the expansion of provincial trades education, funding, and facilities—a crucial step toward resolving the skilled labor shortages hampering housing construction in British Columbia. The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) has highlighted this issue in its five-point election platform, calling for immediate action to address the skilled labor shortage.

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The Current Housing and Trades Gap

The housing shortage in BC has been well documented. With a rapidly growing population, the need for new housing is urgent. The BC government aims to build between 216,000 and 293,000 net-new housing units over the next ten years as part of its Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing and Transit-Oriented Development reforms. However, Skilled Trades BC estimates that around 55,000 construction workers will retire in the next decade, while BCREA projects that 130,000 new workers are needed by 2035 to meet housing construction targets.

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In comparison to provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, which have significantly increased their investments in trades education, BC is lagging. While other provinces have ramped up funding for trades programs, BC’s funding for Skilled Trades BC has remained stagnant, even as inflation, cost of living, and material costs have soared.

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Key Challenges

1. Aging Workforce: A large portion of BC's construction workforce is nearing retirement age. Without sufficient recruitment and training of younger workers, the gap between housing demand and the ability to build new homes will continue to widen.
2. Underfunded Training Programs: The lack of sufficient funding for Skilled Trades BC means that training institutions are under-resourced, leading to long waiting lists for trades programs and insufficient seats available for those wanting to pursue a career in trades.
3. Cost of Living and Competition: The high cost of living in BC, particularly in urban centers like Vancouver, makes it difficult to retain workers in the construction sector. Many skilled tradespeople have left BC for provinces where wages are higher and living costs are lower, exacerbating the labor shortage.

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BCREA’s Recommendations for Expanding Trades Education

To better attract and retain skilled trades workers, BCREA is advocating for a comprehensive reform of the provincial trades education system. Here are the key recommendations:

1. Review and Increase Trades Education in Secondary Schools:
   BCREA recommends a review of trades education in secondary schools to identify support gaps and increase awareness of trades careers from a young age. This early engagement is crucial to ensuring a steady pipeline of future skilled workers.
2. Expand Youth Programming:
   Increasing funding for Skilled Trades BC Youth Programming is essential to attract young students into the trades. This program is designed to engage students early and provide them with the foundational skills they need to pursue a career in construction and related fields.
3. Increase Capital Grants for Training Institutions:
   Post-secondary and trades training institutions in BC are facing outdated facilities and equipment shortages. BCREA recommends increasing capital grants for institutions to expand their capacity and upgrade their training equipment. This includes ensuring that secondary schools have the resources to introduce and maintain trades programs .
4. Scholarships and Incentive Programs:
   To encourage new graduates to pursue careers in skilled trades, BCREA is calling for the creation of provincial scholarships and incentivization programs. These programs would provide financial assistance to students and reduce the financial barriers preventing many from enrolling in trades programs.
5. Long-Term Funding for Skilled Trades BC:
   One of BCREA’s top priorities is ensuring long-term funding increases for Skilled Trades BC, with adjustments to reflect inflation and the rising cost of living. This increased funding would allow for more training seats, flexibility in training schedules, and options for students in remote communities or from underrepresented groups.

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The Importance of Skilled Trades for BC’s Housing Future

Without a strong workforce of skilled tradespeople, the province's ambitious housing plans will remain out of reach. The BC Labour Market Outlook predicts that construction-related jobs will continue to be among the most in-demand in the province over the next decade​. This means that expanding and improving trades education is not just a priority for housing construction but also for BC's overall economic growth.

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To meet the provincial government’s housing goals, a coordinated approach to expanding trades training is essential. Increased funding, more seats in training programs, and greater flexibility in education delivery can help close the gap between housing demand and construction capacity.

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Conclusion

Expanding trades education, funding, and facilities in BC is critical to solving the housing crisis. BCREA’s recommendations aim to address the shortage of skilled tradespeople, which is one of the primary barriers to building new homes. By investing in youth programming, expanding training facilities, and providing long-term funding for Skilled Trades BC, the province can make significant strides toward its housing goals.

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As part of BCREA’s ongoing election platform, this is just the beginning of a broader conversation on the necessary reforms to address housing affordability. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the next critical issue in our series: Housing Tax Reform.

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Source:

• BCREA