Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training

Labour Market and Immigration Division

April 29, 2015

Access to Skilled Labour:A Discussion with the Technology, Film, Digital Media and Life Sciences Sectors

1. Introductions

2. Labour Market Overview

3. Immigrationa) Express Entry

b) Temporary Foreign Worker Program

c) Provincial Nominee Program

4. Training and Employer Supports

5. Panel Discussion

Agenda

3

BC Population & Labour Force (March 2015)

4

Total Population 4,657,947

Population (15+) 3,859,300

Labour Force / Participation Rate 2,430,500 63.0%

Employment 2,289,300

Full-time 1,805,700

Part-time 483,600

Private sector employees 1,463,400

Public sector employees 421,600

Self-employed 404,200

Unemployment / Rate 141,200 5.8%

The Young

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041

Po

pu

lati

on

BC PopulationAged 20-29

The Old

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041

Po

pu

lati

on

BC Population Aged 55-64

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041

Po

pu

lati

on

Population aged 20-29 Population aged 55-64

Demographic Cross-Over

BC Labour Market OutlookExpected Job Openings 2012-2022

Base Job Openings 985,100

Additional LNG Job Openings Up to 100,000

Total 1,085,100

1

2

3

Technology Industry EconomicImpact and Employment

9

12.5 12.7 12.5

13.413.6

14.0

11.5

12.0

12.5

13.0

13.5

14.0

14.5

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

High Tech GDP (2007 Billion $)

85.287.0

83.4

82.6

84.2 84.1

80.0

82.0

84.0

86.0

88.0

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

High Tech Employment (Thousands)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Technology Industry Forecast @ 2.6% growth per year 2013 to 2020

Labour Market Outlook Forecast@ 1.4% growth per year 2013 to 2022

Technology Industry Employment Forecasts

10

111,000

103,000

Technology Industry Top Occupations

11

Ranking Occupation (NOC)Number of Openings

#26Computer Programmers & Interactive Media Developers

3,600

#39Electrical and Electronics Engineers

2,500

#45Electrical and Electronics Technologists and Technicians

2,200

Inter-Provincial Migration to BC

37,026

44,770 42,084

38,961

43,992 41,439

44,188

34,787 36,242 36,161

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Immigrants to BC: 2004 – 2013

13Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Express Entry and Temporary

Foreign Worker Program

BCTIA

April 2015

15

Presentation Topics

• Express Entry

• Upcoming Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker

Program

• Applications for IT, Film & Digital Media sectors

16

Express Entry

• CIC launched the Express Entry immigration system on January 1st,

2015

• Express Entry applies to Canada’s key economic immigration

programs:

o Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP);

o Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP);

o Canadian Experience Class (CEC); and,

o A portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

• Foreign Nationals who complete an Express Entry profile and meet

the criteria of one of the above immigration programs will be accepted

into a pool of candidates.

17

Express Entry

• Each profile will remain in the pool for up to 12 months and must then be re-

submitted if the candidate is interested in renewing their profile.

• Candidates will be scored and ranked in the Comprehensive Ranking System

(CRS) according to four factors:

o Human Capital (age, education, language proficiency, Canadian work

experience)

o Spousal/Common-law partner factors (education, language proficiency,

Canadian work experience)

o Skill Transferability (education, foreign work experience, trade

certifications)

o Qualifying offer of arranged employment (LMIA-based or PN nomination

18

Express Entry

• Valid LMIA-based job offers and provincial nominations give

candidates significant extra points (600) and guarantee an

invitation to apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence (PR).

• Employers who wish to hire skilled foreign workers through one

of these immigration programs may also want to hire these

workers temporarily while their application for permanent

residence is being processed by CIC.

19

Express Entry – PR LMIA

• Employers submitting a PR-LMIA application to support the

permanent residency of a foreign national have two options:

o Single-Intent: Employers can apply for a LMIA in support of

the candidate’s permanent residency (to hire the foreign

national once the permanent resident visa is issued)

OR

o Dual-Intent: Employers can apply for a LMIA to hire the

foreign national as a temporary foreign worker while their

permanent residence application is being processed

20

Express Entry - Processing Fees

• Employers must pay $1000 for each position requested (eg $1000 x number

of positions = total payment) to cover the cost of processing a dual-intent

LMIA application

• Processing fee does not apply to employers applying strictly to support a

foreign national’s application for permanent residence

• The processing fee payment (in Canadian dollars) can be made by:

o certified cheque (payable to the Receiver General for Canada)

o money order (postal or bank)

o Visa

o MasterCard

o American Express

21

Express Entry

• Once the PR-LMIA application is approved, the employer will receive a

confirmation letter, which will be valid for 6 months

• Candidate must update their Express Entry profile with job offer

information, and will then receive an Invitation To Apply

• Candidate has 60 days to submit a complete application for

permanent residence online

• If the employer’s job offer is cancelled before or after the LMIA is

issued, the employer must inform CoS immediately

22

Express Entry – How to apply

• Employers submitting an application to support the permanent residency of a

foreign national must submit the PR LMIA application (EMP5593)

• Please note: The PR LMIA application form will be updated on April 30, 2015

• All documentation must be sent to:

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Service Canada – Centre of Specialization

1 Agar Place, PO Box 7000

Saint John, NB E2L 4V4

or

Fax: 1-866-585-7524

23

Express Entry

Full information on LMIA applications to support permanent

immigration can be found here:

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/higher_skill

ed/permanent/index.shtml

24

Upcoming Changes to the TFW Program

On April 30, 2015, the following changes will be implemented to the

TFW Program:

• Implementation of the new High and Low-Wage streams

• Update to Provincial/Territorial Median Hourly Wages

• New Forms

• Modifications to the method for calculating Cap on Low-Wage

positions

• Update to Unemployment Rate by Economic Regions

25

Upcoming Changes – High & Low Wage

Streams

• On April 30, 2015, those employers offering a wage to a temporary

foreign worker (TFW) that is:

o Below the P/T median hourly wage will need to meet the

requirements of the Stream for Low-Wage Positions

o At or above the P/T median hourly wage will be required to meet

the requirements of the Stream for High-Wage Positions

• The 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes will

continue to be used to determine prevailing wages for each

occupation and to ensure that the appropriate job requirements and

duties are used.

26

Upcoming Changes – High & Low Wage

Streams• On April 30, 2015, the protections that were in place for the Stream for

Lower-Skilled Occupations will be applied to the new Stream for Low-

Wage Positions. As a result, employers offering a wage that is below

the P/T median hourly wage must:

o pay for round-trip transportation for the TFW;

o ensure affordable housing is available;

o pay for private health insurance until workers are eligible for

provincial health coverage;

o register the TFW with the provincial/territorial workplace safety

board; and

o provide an employer-employee contract.

27

Upcoming Changes – P/T Median Hourly Wages

On April 30, 2015, the TFWP will be updating the P/T median

hourly wages:

28

Upcoming Changes – New Forms

• On April 30, 2015, new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

application forms will be introduced. Only applications submitted using

the new form will be processed.

• The new form can be identified as:

o LMIA application – High-Wage and Low-Wage positions

(EMP5602)

• Applications received on or after April 30, 2015 will be considered

incomplete.

29

Upcoming Changes – Modifying Cap

• On April 30, 2015, the TFWP will be implementing a simplified way to

calculate Cap, which will be based on the number of full-time and part-

time positions at a specific work location, instead of based on total

number of hours worked.

• Full-time employee: individual who works, on average, 30 hrs/week or

more over a min. period of 4 consecutive weeks

• Part-time employee: individual who works, on average, less than 30

hrs/week over a min. period of 4 consecutive weeks

30

Upcoming Changes – Modifying Cap

• This new calculation means that there will be a revised form (Schedule

E – Cap for Low-Wage positions), which will specify if and when to

include:

o LMIA-exempt foreign nationals employed in low-wage positions

under Citizenship & Immigration’s International Mobility Program

(IMP); and

o Foreign workers who have received a nomination certificate from a

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or, in rare circumstances, a

letter of support (eg Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP))

• Seasonal Industries will be allowed to use last year’s peak period at

the worksite in calculating their Cap

31

Upcoming Changes – Modifying Cap

• This simpler method does not change the established

Cap. Employers will still be subject to the lesser of their

current percentage or:

o 30% as of June 20, 2014;

o 20% as of July 1, 2015; and

o 10% as of July 1, 2016

32

Applications for Technology, Film & Digital

Media

• LMIA applications for these three sectors are given quick attention,

assigned to specific teams of program officers for assessment

• Recruitment conducted within the 3 months prior to submitting LMIA

application are accepted

• Employers may choose not to use Job Bank or its provincial/territorial

counterpart if it is not considered an effective method of recruitment for

that particular position. This would typically be for senior-level

occupations.

33

Applications for Technology, Film & Digital

Media

• Employers who choose not to use Job Bank must submit a

written rationale and explanation of the alternative method

or national source used along with their LMIA application.

• In some instances, posting certain pertinent information in

advertisements may be excused if posting such

information would have negative consequence for an

employer.

34

Additional Information

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Website

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/index.shtml

Employer Call Centre

1-800-367-5693

35

• 90-day pause on application intake; PNP will re-open to new applications July 2, 2015

• Continuing to accept applications under the Express Entry BC, Health Care Professional, and Northeast Pilot Project categories

• Additional staff to reduce surplus (Skills & Business)

• Opportunity to rebalance PNP to meet B.C.’s needs and improve efficiency

• Stakeholder engagement a priority

Overview

36

Results: Skills and Business Nominations

37

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Business

Skills

Total Calendar Year Nominations

(2 – 3%)

(97 – 98%)

2015: 5,500 Nominations= 4,150 Base +

1,350 Express Entry

1,850 Nominated (138 Express Entry)

Skills Application Intake

38CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

3,5894,487

3,352

4,5325,076

8,969

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Skills Nominee Composition

39

Skill 0/A24%

Skill B57%

Skill C7%

Skill D12%

Skill LevelAccountants/ HR Managers

2% Administrative5%

Education1%

Food Service36%

Health Care4%

Hospitality4%

Natural and Applied Science

10%

Other High Skill18%

Other Low Skill2%

Retail5%

Trades10%

Trucking3%

Sector

*5,700 applications for 2014

Skills Nominee Composition

40

30%

3%

5%

4%

9%

23%

9%

9%

7%

28%

2%

2%

5%

8%

9%

10%

13%

23%

Other

Ireland

Japan

United States

United Kingdom

Philippines

Korea

China

India

Source Country

2014 2010

• Implement online application system

• Intake management & prioritization based on significant economic benefit

• Entrepreneur Immigration – registration system and ranking by points

• Skills Immigration – balance priority sectors; focus on successful settlement factors, economic benefit, high-demand occupations, regional needs.

• Maintain and enhance program integrity

• Ensure a fair, balanced and efficient program

Planned Improvements

41

Feedback/Observations

42

• What are some of the challenges impacting the success of PNP as a tool for the technology sector?

• How does PNP criteria align with the dynamic labourmarket needs of the sector?

43

Skills for Jobs Blueprint

Major Shift in Resources

10 Year Plan to Target Labour

Market Priorities

$7.6 Billion for Education and

Training

Partnerships with industry, labour and

Aboriginal groups

• 2015 Throne Speech commitment to update the 10-year skills training plan based on feedback from the tech sector

• Aim is to better align the plan with economic opportunities to ensure BC’s tech sector has access to the right skills, in the right places, at the right times

10-Year Skills Training Plan Update

• Collaboration between Ministry of Education, schools, post-secondary institutions, and industry

• Articulates bundles of content in specific economic sectors, with a focus on career pathways

• Tool for career coordinators to inform students about career and training options in a specific sector

• http://tinyurl.com/lv5794y

• Feedback by May 31st to educ.skills@gov.bc.ca

Career Zones

• $185.2M, six year government investment, launched Fall 2014

• Employer-driven, application-based program

• Key Features:

a) Employer:

• has an available job

• decides who gets training and what type

• contributes at least one third of costs

b) Training delivered by a third party

c) $10k max per participant per fiscal year

Canada/BC Job Grant

• Helps British Columbians successfully navigate BC’s labour market

• Access skills and training resources, 500+ Career Profiles, 95 Career Trek Videos, Job Search, My Blueprint Builder, Industry Resources, Labour Market Navigator

• 752,000 monthly visits

• Seeking input from the sector on design elements

WorkBC.ca

• To support organizations in developing and implementing strategies for addressing labour force and human resource challenges

• Eligible partners: employer/employee associations, employers, industry associations, community groups, educational institutions, municipalities, band/tribal councils

• Financial support to assist sectors with workforce planning

Labour Market Partnerships Program

Labour Market Partnerships Program Model

EVALUATION

PHASE 5

IMPLEMENTATION

PHASE 4

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

PHASE 3

LABOUR MARKETINFORMATION

PHASE 2

SECTOR ENGAGEMENT

PHASE 1

Developstrategies and sustainability plan for proposed products

Evaluate impact of project on labour market and HR issues

Implement tools or products to address labour market challenges and HR issues

Develop labour market information to augment government resources

50

Establish leadership and direction for the project