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By Kevin Rothwell

Employers buying accomodation to get workers

Local demand for workers exceeds pre-pandemic levels

May 10, 2021 | 5:00 AM

North Okanagan employers are scrambling to keep jobs filled, going as far as buying rental housing for workers to attract people.

“We have spoken to many, many employers that have experienced major needs in the workforce,” Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director at Community Futures North Okanagan, (CFNO) told the Electoral Area Advisory Committee (EAAC).

She noted there is a huge demand for labour in trades, health care, IT and personal services.

There are several factors influencing the availability of employees.

“What’s driving a lot of this need is that there are folks certainly not participating in the workforce because of COVID, that’s for sure,” Horsfield added. “Less than half of the people that live in our region participate in the workforce; 47 per cent of people the live in the North Okanagan work.”

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Another trend was also noted, those working five to seven years past retirement age, are now moving out of the workforce.

“We are back to worse than pre-Covid numbers, in terms of the amount of employers looking for employees, and our availability of labour,” Horsfield stated.

A lack of affordable housing to purchase or rent has also been a barrier to attract and retain employees.

“We have talked to a couple of employers who have purchased duplexes, in order for them to be able to attract labour and at least get them started in rental housing, because they can’t secure it anywhere else,” Horsfield said. “We want to retain youth, we want to attract them to our region, we want to bring in skilled labour, but housing is a massive issue.”

CFNO’s business programs have been very busy with new start-ups, loans and coaching, while the Work B.C. employment side has been relatively quiet.

by Kevin Rothwell

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