Elk Valley employers are struggling to fill more than 260 vacancies as a lack of affordable housing stifles the labour market.
Nearly 40 businesses are expected to take part in the Elk Valley Community Job Fair on Thursday, November 1 – the most in five years, according to the local Work BC Employment Services Centre.
EK Employment Elk Valley hosted its first ever spring job fair in May in a bid to fill more than 200 vacancies, including about 30 positions at one grocery store.
Marketing and Community Engagement Liaison, Brenda Sutherland, said there has been little improvement since then.
“We currently have 140 job postings recruiting for over 260 job vacancies,” she said.
“Unless we get more affordable rent and housing in Fernie, I fear this demand for workers will remain the same or get worse.”
The labour shortage is being felt across the board, with high demand for workers in all sectors.
“Contracting, construction and tourism jobs are the hardest hit sectors, which can also be contributed to the lack of affordable housing,” said Sutherland.
“Experienced Class 1 and 3 drivers are also needed throughout the Elk Valley region.”
The winter job fair will be held at the Fernie Community Centre from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday, November 1. Participating businesses include Teck Coal, Fernie Alpine Resort and, for the first time, Crowsnest Pass ski resort Pass Powderkeg.
Industries that will be represented are retail, sales and service, trades, and hospitality and tourism, with a number of information booths.
Sutherland said there has been an increase in the number of union-based companies attending to fill a variety of skilled positions. “We also have the Canadian Armed Forces attending this year,” she said. “It’s a very diverse group of organizations for a diverse need of workers.”
The winter job fair traditionally attracts about 300 job seekers, a number of whom Sutherland hopes will be high school students seeking part-time employment.
She said only 15 to 20 per cent of local youth are employed or looking for work.
“We would love to see an increase in this percentage as this is an untapped market that Fernie needs active in the labour market, especially with the lack of housing availability in our Valley,” she said.
“It is difficult to fill the tourism and hospitality positions by those coming from other regions when they have no place to live.”
Sutherland’s advice for jobseekers attending the fair is to be prepared with copies of their resume and cover letter in hand, and for on the spot interviews.
“You have one chance to make a positive impression with potential employers,” she said.
“Make it count and do your research on the companies you would like to gain employment with.”
To view the full list of participating businesses, visit Facebook.com/EKEmploymentElkValley.
For more information, stop by EK Employment at 302 2nd Ave, call 250-423-4204 or email Brenda Sutherland at brendas@ekemployment.org.