A new partnership between the Province and the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA) will study labour market trends and needs - including future LNG opportunities - for 10 First Nations communities in the region.
The B.C. government is providing $320,022 to PGNAETA for the project, which will be completed in collaboration with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Lheidli T’enneh Band, McLeod Lake Band, Nadleh Whut’en Band, Nak’azdli Band, Saik’uz First Nation, Stellat’en First Nation, Takla Lake First Nation, Tl’azt’en Nation and Yekooche First Nation, as well as additional communities who choose to participate.
The project is employing a co-ordinator, a research assistant and field interviewers to gather information and develop a skills inventory, long-term approaches for Aboriginal labour force development, and a human resources strategy to meet the anticipated labour demand for skilled workers in the participating First Nations communities. They will do so by conducting interviews with major employers, small businesses and up to 1,000 First Nations community members to determine areas of interest for future skills development.
The strategy will include current and projected labour market needs, information on the current composition of the Aboriginal workforce, identification of training and education needs and strategies to meet labour market needs now and in the future. It will also create Aboriginal human resource development programs within each community.
The report will be complete in October and shared with the participating communities.