Vernon employees and those looking for work can rest assured that a new immigration pilot program coming to town isn香蕉视频直播檛 taking away local jobs.

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot begins Feb. 1 in Vernon, which is one of only 11 Canadian cities taking part in the program. The Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO) is facilitating the program.

It allows local employers to post jobs that could help bring up to 100 skilled foreign workers to the North Okanagan every year until 2022 香蕉视频直播� bolstering the economy and helping employers overcome a looming skilled labour shortage that can香蕉视频直播檛 be filled solely by residents.

These are skilled positions, such as those in the health care sectors, trades, high level manufacturing, engineers, technologists and IT sector.

香蕉视频直播淭he employers are telling us over and over again that they can香蕉视频直播檛 fill these jobs,香蕉视频直播� said Leigha Horsfield, CFNO general manager. 香蕉视频直播淲e have to look at other options because domestically we can香蕉视频直播檛 fill those positions.香蕉视频直播�

To underscore her point, she said by 2028 there will be 90,000 job vacancies in the Thompson-Okanagan.

While the program can see up to 300 applicants for the three-year period, Horsfield said that is the maximum and they may not see anywhere close to that many applications as Canada isn香蕉视频直播檛 the only country struggling to find skilled workers.

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The process will also not happen overnight becuase it starts first with foreign workers who are already here.

香蕉视频直播淢ost of the people in the first round of the program are people that are already here, they are already working in some temporary fashion,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield, who says other communities that have implemented the program say well over 50 of the applicants are coming from the community.

香蕉视频直播淲e aren香蕉视频直播檛 going to see all of sudden 30 people show up.香蕉视频直播�

On the employer end, hiring a foreign worker is the last resort.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have to demonstrate that they香蕉视频直播檝e tried to hire a Canadian,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield, adding that the position must be posted locally.

香蕉视频直播淚t is 100 times easier to hire domestically for these positions, this isn香蕉视频直播檛 the easiest path.香蕉视频直播�

There is no wage subsidy for employers, the only incentive is a faster track for residency and obtaining skilled workers to fill a gap.

The existing housing shortage in the region has also been considered, which is why those that are already living here are ideal.

For employers hiring direct foreign workers, it is a long process that takes approximately five months.

香蕉视频直播淒uring that time they can source housing and support,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to set people up for success.香蕉视频直播�

There is also favouritism for those who already have a rental property here, if they香蕉视频直播檝e worked in the region, if they have a spouse or if they have a high level of English.

香蕉视频直播淭he whole purpose of this whole thing is retention and keeping people in our economy,香蕉视频直播� she said.

While the goal is to support these skilled positions, it won香蕉视频直播檛 benefit all.

香蕉视频直播淏ut based on our consultation with employers, this program is a start,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield, noting the program won香蕉视频直播檛 meet the needs for seasonal employers, as the positions have to be full time.

In fact following Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 employer session, many do not quality for this program but there are others that CFNO can assist them with.

香蕉视频直播淪ome of them were frustrated because they don香蕉视频直播檛 pay $20 an hour,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield, adding that CFNO is a WorkBC office so is always helping employers and employees connect.

But the reality is that there is a major gap in the workforce locally.

香蕉视频直播淥nly 48 per cent participate in the workforce,香蕉视频直播� said Horsfield.

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jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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