Surfing for Work in British Columbia

Friday, 09/10/2010

1.0	Introduction

2.0	Topic List

3.0	Using the Internet

4.0	Research on the Net

4.01	The Labour Market

4.1	The BC Economy

4.2	Occupational LMI

4.21	Use with Caution!

4.22	Today's Skills

4.23	Essential Skills

4.3	Ed. & Train'g LMI

4.4	Sector LMI

4.41	Analyzing sectors

4.42	Canadian Sector Information

4.43	Sectors in British Columbia

4.44	Entertainment and Culture

4.45	Government

4.46	Health Care

4.47	Science & Technology

4.48

Tourism

4.49	Forestry-Wood

4.491

Building Our Tutorial

4.5	Community LMI

4.51	Creative Observation

4.52	Community LMI on the Net

4.6	Professional Associations

5.0	Online Job Search

6.0	Self-Employment

7.0	Special Groups

8.0	Career Self-Management

9.0

Feedback

4.1 The BC Economy

Develop "economic literacy"

Economic literacy means having a basic understanding of how the economy works and how changes in the economy and labour market can affect you as a worker. Here's a good description of what economic literacy means:

"If you're planning to work in British Columbia, you need to know what kinds of jobs are available in the province, which industries are hiring new workers, and where you're likely to find an employer who
needs someone with your skills and abilities. You should also know how BC's economy is structured, which industries employ the most people, how the economy has been changing, and how it's expected to change in the future."
- A Guide to the BC Economy

The Guide's the place to go. All British Columbia workers should take the time to learn about the provincial labour market and how it affects their personal prospects for work. A great place to start is an excellent online resource called A Guide to the BC Economy. This publication, produced by the BC government, will help you look for work in all the right places.

Use BC WorkInfoNet (BCWIN) as your portal to information about BC's labour market! BC WIN is loaded with information about working in British Columbia. If you're looking for a job, explore the Job Seeker tab. If you're more interested in career planning, click on Career Explorer. Take some time to learn about BCWIN; the thousands of resources on this site can help you learn about the labour market and find opportunities for work.

Check out Service Canada. Service Canada's Labour Market Information website offers links to provincial and regional labour market information. Choose a topic you want to explore from the left column and then enter BC and the region where you live.


	"Three out of every four jobs in British Columbia are in service industries. The service sector is diverse, including activities ranging from real estate and financial services to retailing, hairstyling, health care, education and government services." - Introduction, Guide to the BC Economy.

	Try this! Identify economic trends in BC.

	BC Stats produced by the provincial government, features information on business and the economy, the labour force, employment and earnings. The Quick Facts about BC link provides a ready reference for a comprehensive picture of BC and its economy.