By Tiffany Crawford, featured in the Vancouver Sun – October 8, 2021

B.C. adds 12,300 jobs in September, but recovery far from complete

There was little change to B.C.’s economy in September, although the province added 12,300 jobs as students returned to school, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey Friday.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.3 per cent to 5.9 per cent., and B.C. remains the lone province with employment notably above its pre-pandemic level.

The minister also announced an expanded tech sector training program on Friday that gives priority to some under-represented people, including Indigenous peoples, women, immigrants and those who are disabled.

Kahlon said up to 2,000 people will get the opportunity to improve tech skills and knowledge through an expanded Canadian Tech Accelerator program, which is a collaboration between the province, digital companies across Canada and Microsoft Canada.

A number of news outlets reported on the B.C. Government’s announcement of the partnership between themselves, the Digital Technology Supercluster, Microsoft, BluePrint ADE, and NPower Canada.

Read about how the announcement will impact B.C. youth and the province’s employment recovery by reading the following articles.

Vancouver is Awesome: Province funds new tech training program for under-represented groups

Kamloops Now: Young British Columbians offered training program for tech industry

Times Colonist: Province funds new tech training program for underrepresented groups