Attracting Skilled Workers
International immigration is a key source of new skills for British Columbia. An expanding economy and outstanding quality of life make us a global magnet for talent.
- Since 2005, more than 255,000 immigrants have settled in B.C., a yearly average of 42,500 people, enriching the province’s talent pool, international networks, cultural diversity and multi-lingual capabilities.
- According to the most recent census, more than seven per cent of the B.C. workforce (over 183,000 people) report using one of the Chinese dialects as their main language in the workplace. More than 92,000 use Punjabi and over 20,000 use Korean.
- The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program helps fast-track recruitment of highly skilled foreign workers and business entrepreneurs. The Skills Connect Program accelerates the entry of skilled immigrants into their fields of expertise.
Our quality of life attracts and retains highly skilled workers.
- Vancouver has been ranked as the most livable city in the world for the fifth year in a row by the Economist Intelligence Unit, an affiliate of the U.K.-based Economist magazine. Vancouver was ranked against 140 cities on stability, health care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure.
- The Mercer Human Resource Consulting's 2010 Quality of Living Survey ranks Vancouver first in North America and fourth out of 215 cities worldwide. Vancouver is also ranked first in North America for infrastructure by the study.