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Job market hot, productivity tepid

A shift to the resources sector, labour shortages and one-time events curtailed productivity last year, and may explain the puzzling divergence between lacklustre output and a blistering jobs market, a report suggested Friday. The Canadian economy churned out 345,000 jobs last year even as productivity slowed. Economists, along with Bank of Canada officials, have been scratching their heads for months to figure out why the trends differ. Some have questioned whether the data is accurate, however today's report didn't indicate any need for revisions. Instead, Statistics Canada set to explain the juxtaposition. In a highly anticipated 22-page report, it listed several reasons for tepid productivity and stressed that such divergences are nothing new. Full article here.

Labour Force Survey - Latest release

Employment increased by an estimated 89,000 in January, continuing the upward trend that began in September 2006. January's employment increase was largely driven by growth in the two westernmost provinces. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points in January to 6.2%, the result of more people entering the labour force in search of work.  Click here.

Statistics Canada

Summary tables includes overviews of major social and economic trends, as well as brief analytical articles on more recent developments. See more here. 

What are BC employers looking for?

The Business Council's 2006 report highlights the skills and attributes that major BC employers are looking for in new hires. This invaluable resource is widely used by job-seekers, students, teachers, career counselors, employment service advisors, and others to prepare for entry into the job market. Source.

Employment Standards

The Employment Standards Branch administers the Employment Standards Act and Regulation, which set minimum standards of wages and working conditions in most workplaces. For more information, click here. 

Facilitators

Meeting facilitators are hired to work with a company or an organization for a specific amount of time. The contract will outline what this time period is. It could be one meeting or a series of meetings over several months.  Facilitators have an objective point of view. They can help people work through their feelings, get their point across and achieve a positive outcome.  Source.

BC 2007 Economic Forecast

In the wake of the strongest multi-year expansion since the late 1980s, economic growth in BC is likely to moderate somewhat in 2007 but stay comfortably above its long-term average. This modest downshift is due predominantly to a weakening US housing market and a subdued overall export performance. The good news is that domestic demand in the province is buoyant.  Non-residential construction stands out as a driving force in the current upswing. In addition, optimistic and wealthier BC consumers should continue to spend freely. For 2007, the Business Council expects the BC economy to grow by 3.4% on an after-inflation basis, down from 4.3% last year. A similar performance is likely in 2008.  Source.

Workplace safety fines

More than 70 employers were fined by WorkSafeBC last year for occupational health and safety violations that led to numerous injuries and a dozen deaths. Penalties have also been recommended against another 80 companies but have not yet been imposed.  Source.

New home construction expected to slow down in BC

Housing starts in British Columbia will ease off in 2007 as a high-price-induced slowdown in housing resale markets translates into less demand for new units, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp reported today.  Canada Mortgage, in its Housing Market Outlook for the first quarter of 2007, forecast that B.C. housing starts will slip to 34,700 new units in 2007, down 4.8 per cent from 36,443 new units in 2006.  Source.

Program name change - CSW

Nearly six million people or one in five Canadians (20% of the population) are likely to experience a diagnosable mental illness. Approximately 3% of Canadians are likely to have lived with a serious mental illness.

• Of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide, five are mental disorders including major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

• By 2020 it is estimated that depressive illnesses will become the second leading cause of disease burden worldwide and the leading cause in developed countries like Canada.

• About 4,000 Canadians commit suicide each year. Mental illness is highly correlated to suicidal behaviour, with studies indicating that more than 90% of suicide victims have a diagnosable mental illness or substance use disorder.  Source: The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health

New Program at Stenberg College (Vancouver & Surrey Campus)
Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Worker Diploma program (previously known as Community Support Worker). 

For more information:  http://www.realizinghumanpotential.com/about_stenberg_college.html