WorkShoppers Online

What is a Knowledge Worker?

The Future of Work

The broadest view of knowledge work is that it is an activity that either requires specialized knowledge or skills, or creates new knowledge. In contrast to physical labor, knowledge work focuses primarily on creating or applying information or knowledge to create value.

So what exactly is a knowledge worker, and how can the nature of his or her work be described? At the most generic level, the term "knowledge worker" refers to individuals who possess high levels of education and/or expertise in a particular area, and who use their cognitive skills to engage in complex problem solving.

Wikipedia defines a knowledge worker as:

Someone who works primarily with information or one who develops and uses knowledge in the workplace (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_worker ).

Newspapers - BC

Abbotsford News - Lower Mainland, B.C.

Abbotsford Times - Abbotsford, B.C.

Burnaby News Leader - Burnaby, B.C.

Campbell River Mirror - Campbell River, B.C.

Castlegar News - Castlegar, B.C.

Chilliwack Progress - Chilliwack, B.C.

Delta Leader - Delta, B.C.

Invermere Valley Echo - Invermere, B.C.

Kamloops Daily News - Kamloops, B.C.

Kelowna Daily Courier - Kelowna, B.C.

Maple Ridge News - Maple Ridge, B.C.

Langley Times - Langley, B.C.

Mission Record - Mission, B.C.

Nanaimo Bulletin - Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Oliver Chronicle - Oliver, B.C.

Nanaimo Daily News - Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Penticton Western News - Penticton, British Columbia

Powell River Peak - Powell River, B.C.

Prince George Citizen Classifieds - Prince George, B.C..

Quesnel Cariboo Observer - Quesnel, B.C.

Richmond Review - Richmond, B.C.

Sunshine Coast Reporter - Sechelt, B.C.

Saanich News - Saanich, B.C.

Sooke News Mirror - Sooke, B.C.

Tri City News - Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody area

Vancouver Province - Vancouver, B.C.

Vancouver Sun - Vancouver, B.C.

VanNet - Lower Mainland, B.C. - Select 'Employment' from the menu.

Vernon Morning Star - Vernon, B.C.

Victoria Times Colonist - Victoria, B.C.

Whistler Question - Whistler, B.C.

The Work Place

Useful sites that offer quality information on many aspects of creating and finding opportunities for employment. We have assembled this one stop resource for quickly finding some effective tools you will need to make your search for work successful. 

Homeless Bloggers

The Homeless Nation is Canada's only website created by and for Homeless Canadians. Through a national network of outreach workers, The Homeless Nation Project is dedicated to providing the tools for homeless Canadians to share their stories, unique philosophies and points of view with other Canadians. As well, this site provides an opportunity for the general public to interact and learn more about Canada's homeless population. We believe social change is an interactive process, and HomelessNation.org is a means to starting this national dialogue.  See City News video blog.

Search Tools

Looking for current labour market information?  Search by using keywords in this Archive.

Entry Level Jobs

Link: Start Now! Work Futures for Entry Level Jobs.

Welcome to Start Now! Work Futures for Entry Level Jobs. Here you'll find information about careers in B.C. Included are occupational descriptions and employment prospects for occupations that permit entry into the labour market with little or no post-secondary education and little or no previous work experience. It contains profiles of career areas from Accounting Clerks to Welding Machine Operators. Each profile has information on what it's like to work in that field, job prospects, earnings, what skills are needed and what careers are possible with further training or education.

Province of British Columbia

Link: Province of British Columbia.

Jobs and the Economy

Topics - A comprehensive list of online resources

Writing Skills

Good communication skills can play a major role in an individual's success in the classroom and in today's workplace. 

The National Commission on Writing is working to help improve the way schools teach students to read and write.

Visit the site:
http://www.writingcommission.org/

WestJet

Link: The Globe and Mail: WestJet eyes customer perks.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. will introduce a reservation system that offers new perks for consumers next summer and start forming alliances with other carriers in the fall, says chief executive officer Clive Beddoe. A new computer reservation network will allow WestJet to tailor fares and perks to target more passengers willing to pay extra. The strategy includes luring business travellers, pitting WestJet squarely against Air Canada in the quest for corporate passengers in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal triangle.

Social Purchasing Portal

Growth in the Fraser Valley means growth for business whether you are in the business of providing services or providing products.  Growth also means businesses need to purchase products, need to expand their markets, and need to hire more employees.

But where does a company go when they want to purchase products for the office?  Where can a business advertise their products when advertising is expensive?  Where can a business hire someone who has been pre-screened by an agency that has ensured they are job ready?

Now, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Employment and Community Development department is embarking on a new opportunity that will enable socially responsible businesses to interact with each other while creating employment opportunities for people right in your neighbourhood.

The Fraser Valley Social Purchasing Portal is a website that is designed to connect business people with each other. The site is located at: www.sppfraservalley.org.  By harnessing the purchasing power of businesses that use local goods and services, it directs that power towards companies that have made a commitment to helping people.

Here's how it works:
You may be a business owner looking to buy office products. You visit the Social Purchasing Portal and find businesses listed there, at no cost, who provide the products you need.
These businesses are owned by people who have made a commitment to hiring people through local employment agencies who ensure that potential employees are pre-screened, skilled and job ready.
Purchasers benefit because they know they are purchasing products that they would buy anyway from companies that are intentional about helping people in the community.
Suppliers benefit because free advertising on the Social Purchasing Portal allows them to expand their markets and also allows them access to potential employees who are ready to work.

The community benefits because job creation and economic activity is essential for any community to grow and stay healthy.

This service is made possible by a grant from Coast Capital. MCC is also contributing support in kind. The official launch of the website took place on Nov. 7. If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity contact Darryl Exelby at 604-859 6790 or at: dexelby@mccbc.com. Or visit the Social Purchasing Portal at: www.sppfraservalley.org

[From the Abbotsford News, November 17 issue.]