Okanagan employers predict 75,000 hires

KELOWNA–The next five years should be good for for job hunters in the Okanagan.

A study commissioned by the Regional District of Central Okanagan predicts a huge number of new hires will have to be made, to sustain the economy in the region.

“Employers are projecting upwards of over 75,000 people needed in the workforce in addition to what currently exists in the next five to six years”, reports Corie Griffiths, with the Central Okanagan Economic Develo0pment Commission, “which is pretty substantial.”

More than 15,000 people are expected to retire from the region’s workforce, and most Okanagan employers expect to see growth in their companies.

While this might seem like good news, the numbers are also causing some concern.

“It’s concerning in that it could directly impact an employers ability to do business, if they aren’t able to find a technical occupation that they need, that’s going to impact their ability to generate sales, bottom line”, continues Griffiths.

The study also shows that a large portion of new hires will require post-secondary education.
Industries that will likely require the most people in the next five years include technology, construction, health care, tourism and agriculture.