What the Sector Needs, What Newcomers Bring, and What Needs to Change
B.C.’s bio-economy is growing faster than the domestic labour supply. Of 159 employers surveyed, 54 per cent have unfilled roles, and 74 per cent expect to add staff in the next two years. Employers who already hire internationally trained newcomer talent rate them highly: 94 per cent point to adaptability, and 89 per cent to strong technical skills.
The constraint is structural. Eighty-two per cent say immigration and work-permit rules make hiring harder, and 77 per cent say permanent-residence uncertainty affects hiring decisions. Small firms feel it most: 61 per cent of firms with fewer than 10 employees report limited HR capacity, against 13 per cent of larger firms.
“Internationally trained newcomers often are strongly driven and possess great technical skills.” — B.C. bio-economy employer
The brief sets out what employers asked for: longer work permits and bridging permits, skills-based hiring, and bridging programs in Good Manufacturing Practice, Standard Operating Procedure, and Health Canada regulatory literacy.
Employers can start with the SME Workforce Readiness Diagnostic, ASCEND, MentorConnect, TalentConnect, and the IECC Learning Hub.
