1.

I'm a non-Canadian who wishes to find work in Canada.  Can you help me?

BC Work Futures is a career resource for those who are legally permitted to work in Canada.  This includes:

1. Canadian citizens,
2. Canadian permanent residents, and
3. individuals authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

If you are interested in coming to Canada to work, the following resources may help you:

WelcomeBC
http://www.welcomebc.ca/en/immigration/index.html
Learn what you need to immigrate, find a job, get healthcare and settle in B.C. The site features information on the province's economy and employment, including job prospects for immigrants.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/
Provides comprehensive information about immigration to Canada, temporary work in Canada and Canadian citizenship.  For further information, contact the Department's representatives at your nearest Canadian embassy or visa office.

B.C. Provincial Nominee Program
http://www.pnp.gov.bc.ca/
This program offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers who wish to settle in B.C. and become permanent residents of Canada.

Canadian Offices Abroad
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/menu-en.asp
Use this listing to find the Canadian embassy, consulate, high commission or trade office nearest you.

2.

Where can I find information about labour mobility in B.C.?

Workers already licensed or certified in another province or territory in a provincially regulated occupation will have their credentials recognized in B.C.  

For more detailed information on labour mobility see Chapter 7 of the Agreement on Internal Trade at http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmobility/welcome.htm or contact B.C.’s labour mobility coordinator at aitlabourmobility@gov.bc.ca.

If you are licensed or certified in Alberta and looking to move to B.C., you’ll also find information on the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) website at: http://www.tilma.ca/professional_or_skilled_tradesperson.asp

3.

Where can I find help with my job search?

The BC Work Futures website provides job seekers with information on occupations and the B.C. labour market.  This site does not accept resumes or provide job search services. 

The following resources may help you plan your career path and find a job:

WorkBC - Job Seekers
http://www.workbc.ca/job_seekers/welcome.htm
Discover job search strategies, tools and services.

Service Canada - Job Bank
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/
Service Canada's Job Bank is Canada's largest online network of job postings.  This site also provides information about job search and career planning.

Lower Mainland Employment Resources
http://www.lmer.ca/
Provides links to job-finding clubs and other community employment programs across B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development -
Career Planning and Labour Market Information
 http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketinfo/welcome.htm
Offers information on the B.C. labour market, as well as career planning and post-secondary education and training resources.

BC Workinfonet
http://www.workinfonet.bc.ca/
BC Workinfonet provides access to career planning, education and employment information and services, including a searchable database of links.

Service Canada - Labour Market Information
http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca/
Find detailed information on factors such as worker demand, educational requirements, wage rates and employment outlooks to help job seekers make informed decisions.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada 
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml
Offers a variety of services to help individuals find work and develop their talents, skills and resources.

Good luck!

4.

Where can I find information about apprenticeships or a career in the skilled trades?

If you are interested in an apprenticeship program or a career in the skilled trades, the following resources are a good place to start:

Industry Training Authority
http://www.itabc.ca/
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is the Crown agency responsible for managing the industry training and apprenticeship system in B.C.

The ITA's website provides detailed information on education and training options and credentialing requirements for careers in trades.  All questions regarding industry training and apprenticeship in B.C. should be directed to the ITA.

Apprentice Trades
http://www.apprenticetrades.ca/
Developed by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, this site provides information on apprenticeship programs and training across Canada.

Construction Sector Council
http://www.csc-ca.org/
Find information about careers in the construction industry, including labour market information, profiles of construction occupations and information on education and training requirements.

Working in Canada
http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca
Provides comprehensive information on regulated trades and professions in Canada.

5.

How can I find out about labour laws and regulations in B.C.?

WorkBC - Understand Your Rights
http://www.workbc.ca/job_seekers/finding_employment/understand_your_rights.htm
Find information about employment standards, human rights, labour relations and occupational health and safety laws and regulations in B.C.

In B.C., the provincial government's Employment Standards branch administers the Employment Standards Act and Regulation. This Act sets minimum standards of wages and terms of employment for most workers in B.C.  For more information, please visit http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb.

6.

Where can I find information about post-secondary programs and courses in B.C.?

The following online resources can help you plan your post-secondary education:

Education Planner
http://www.educationplanner.ca/
Provides comprehensive, searchable program information for undergraduate programs offered at B.C. universities, colleges and institutes.

WorkBC - Learning
http://workbc.ca/career_pathways/learning/welcome.htm
A guide to learning resources, including B.C. post-secondary schools and programs, how to prepare for and fund your education, licensing and credential recognition, and skill development.

CanLearn
http://www.canlearn.ca/
CanLearn's interactive site provides information about post-secondary education and training in Canada.  For up-to-date information on courses and program offerings, it is best to contact post-secondary institutions directly. Most institutions post program details on their individual websites. 

British Columbia Education Quality Assurance (EQA)
http://bceqa.ca/
Describes Canada's first and only provincial brand of quality for post-secondary education and how the EQA seal can help you choose a B.C. post-secondary institution.

BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development -
Public Post-Secondary Institutions
http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/institutions/colleges.htm
Find an overview of B.C.'s public post-secondary institutions.

Private Career Training Institutions Agency
http://www.pctia.bc.ca/
This site is an information guide to private career training in B.C.

7.

Where can I find information about degree equivalences or foreign credential recognition?

If you were educated in a country, province or territory outside B.C., or if you are uncertain about course and program equivalences between institutions, you will need to take steps to ensure your education will be recognized by B.C. employers.  The following resources may be of use to you:

Welcome BC - Foreign Qualifications Recognition
http://www.welcomebc.ca/en/immigration/come/lmp/fqr/index.html
Foreign Qualifications Recognition (FQR) is the process of verifying that the education, knowledge, skills, and work experience obtained in another country compares to the standards established for Canadian workers.

WorkBC - Licensing and Credential Recognition
http://www.workbc.ca/career_pathways/learning/licensing_and_credential_recognition.htm
Presents a range of resources on regulated occupations in B.C., labour mobility within Canada and recognition of foreign credentials.

International Credential Evaluation Service
http://www.bcit.ca/ices
This service evaluates educational credits earned outside of B.C. or Canada and determines their B.C. equivalents.

Foreign Credentials Referral Office
http://www.credentials.gc.ca/
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office provides information, path-finding and referral services to help foreign-trained workers succeed and put their skills to work.

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
http://www.cicic.ca/
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials advises individuals on how to have their foreign credentials assessed and recognized in Canada.

B.C. Transfer Guide
http://www.bctransferguide.ca/
Use this site to find out which courses are transferable between B.C. post-secondary institutions.

8.

How often is BC Work Futures updated?

New information is continually added to BC Work Futures to keep pace with changing employment trends.

9.

How current is BC Work Futures' statistical data?

The primary source for detailed employment information in the Work Futures profiles is the Census of Canada, which is conducted by Statistics Canada every five years. Data from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey has also been used. 

Employment projections from the COPS (Canadian Occupational Projection System) BC Unique Scenario at http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketinfo/reports/COPS_BC_Unique_Scenario_2007-2017%20.pdf were used for medium-term provincial employment trends.

10.

Where can I find more detailed and/or current wage information?

B.C. Wage and Salary Survey
http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/lss/labour/wage/
Find searchable information on part-time and full-time wages, hours of work, hiring difficulties, and vacancies for 121 of the province’s most common occupations.

BC Student Outcomes
http://outcomes.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/Default/Home.aspx
This site provides information on education and labour market outcomes of the annual B.C. Diploma, Associate Degree, and Certificate Student Outcomes (DACSO) Survey; the Baccalaureate Graduates Survey; and other surveys. Hourly wage or annual salary information is included.

Statistics Canada - Wages, Salaries and Other Earnings Tables
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/ind01/l3_2621_238.htm?hili_none
This page provides tables of wage information, such as average earnings for hourly paid employees, by industry and by province.

Service Canada: Labour Market Information - Wages and Salaries
http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca/standard.aspx?ppid=43&lcode=E
This page provides searchable wage and salary information by occupation and province or territory.

Professional Associations
The occupational and industry associations referenced in the profiles may be able to provide additional wage estimates and other occupational information.

11.

What is the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system?

The National Occupational Classification (NOC 2006) system is a framework for organizing and classifying occupations in Canada. The NOC system groups occupations according to skill level and skill type and assigns each a two-digit, three-digit and four-digit occupational code.

Visit Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's NOC website at: http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/generic/welcome.shtml.

For additional information about the National Occupational Classification and related occupational publications, please contact:

Skills and Labour Market Information Division
140 Promenade du Portage
Place du Portage Phase IV, 4th floor
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9

Telephone: (819) 934-8451
Email: noc-cnp@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca