VICTORIA – For the second year in a row, the B.C. government will support manufacturing by proclaiming Oct. 11 – 17, 2015, as Manufacturing Week in BC. The announcement was made today by Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labor, and Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan, with an official presentation of the proclamation to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) industry association at the Legislature.
“Manufacturing is one of the main drivers of economic growth in British Columbia and a key sector of the BC Jobs Plan. The industry employs a significant percentage of BC’s workforce and provides well-paying, highly skilled jobs. By proclaiming October 11 to 17 as Manufacturing Week, the B.C. government is demonstrating its commitment to work with manufacturers to help raise the profile of the industry, to grow their market share, recruit new talent and enhance their ability to compete in global markets,” Bond explained.
Manufacturing drives all sectors of the BC Jobs Plan and is an important part of the provincial economy, generating more than $14 billion in gross domestic product (GDP). It’s a complex industry that involves using human intellect and participation from other sectors supplying raw materials, energy and equipment to produce a wide range of good for export and domestic markets. It also employs a significant percentage of B.C.’s labor force and accounts for a large share of total provincial output.
“Manufacturing has enormous economic and social impacts in British Columbia. Most jobs, directly or indirectly, depend on manufacturing. Through the BC Jobs Plan, government encourages young people to enter the field and access the training required to pursue rewarding careers in the industry. Manufacturing Week draws attention to these innovative, family-supporting jobs and showcases how manufacturing contributes to British Columbia’s diverse, strong and growing economy,” added Kyllo.
Through the BC Jobs Plan, the provincial government is delivering on its commitments to promote B.C. export-ready products internationally, support inbound trade missions that connect B.C. manufacturers with potential new buyers, ensure a skilled workforce and engage directly with manufacturers throughout B.C. to identify and reduce barriers to growth.
Throughout October, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) is scheduling special events and manufacturing plant tours in partnership with communities, Chambers of Commerce and the B.C. government – bringing together manufacturers, communities, students and others interested in innovative manufacturing practices. The CME is a trade and industry association serving 10,000 Canadian manufacturing companies focusing on improving business competitiveness.
Quick Facts:
- Manufacturing contributes more than $14 billion to the B.C. economy – approximately 8.5 percent of the total Canadian manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP).
- There are approximately 12,000 manufacturing companies in British Columbia.
- In 2014, there were approximately 161,000 people employed in the manufacturing sector in British Columbia, the third largest share of manufacturing sector workers among all Canadian provinces.
- The average manufacturing wage is 12 percent above the provincial average.
- Approximately 26 percent of the employed labor force in the manufacturing sector of B.C. was female.
- Manufactured goods account for 62 percent of B.C.’s total goods exports to international destinations.
- In 2014, the value of B.C.’s manufactured exports to foreign destinations approached $22.8 billion, an increase of about 8.3 percent over the previous year.