For some, a dream job would be a vacation planner – for themselves!
Vacationing in British Columbia can take so many forms it would indeed be a full-time job.
The tourism and hospitality industry is an extremely diverse industry with more than 400 different occupations, including occupations that lead to longer-term careers, as well as those that fit well for those seeking part-time work, such as students or older workers who are not yet ready to retire.
British Columbia’s tourism industry will be a leader in provincial job growth as businesses look to fill 101,000 new job openings by 2020, according to a study of labour demand and supply by go2, the B.C. tourism industry’s human resource association.
The Tourism Labour Market Strategy, released in the spring of 2012 by go2, sets out the plan to recruit, retain and train the workers needed to keep pace with the growth projected for the industry.
Nearly half of the 101,000 openings will be new jobs created by the tourism industry across the province, adding 44,220 more jobs to the provincial workforce by 2020. The other approximately 57,000 openings are due to replacements (i.e. retirements).
Two South Cariboo tourism operators are preparing for the jump in business and the resulting need for new jobs.
Cariboo-Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association president Pat Corbett says a key element of creating local tourism jobs is ensuring a strong regional marketing infrastructure.
“We suggest looking at having good visitor access to your markets - via planes, trains, automobiles and ferries - as well as at venture capital because tourism for the most part is a fairly capital-intensive business.
“In rural British Columbia, investors look at access, and also at aspects of land cost, property taxes and taxation-related issues as the core fundamentals.”
He adds tourism entrepreneurs should be prepared for skills training and budget for it.
Meanwhile, 108 Golf Resort general manager Jeff Kendy says the resort’s tourism business doesn’t have a lot of turnover, so creative hiring practices involve getting in contact with Horton Ventures’ Community Employment Services in 100 Mile House.
“We inquire into what subsidies are available, and then create a job at the resort based on the subsidy criteria,” Kendy says.
“Then if the person hired has the qualities we are looking for in an employee, we keep that person after the subsidy expires.”