The Government of British Columbia, with financial support from the federal government, is investing more than $1 million in workforce training and employment initiatives across the Nechako region. The funding, delivered through the Community Workforce Response Grant and Community and Employer Partnerships programs, will benefit communities including Fort Fraser, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof.
The investment is aimed at helping local employers overcome ongoing labour shortages, particularly as demand grows for workers on major regional projects.
According to the province, the funding will support a range of employment services designed to keep workers connected to job opportunities while helping them develop new skills and transition into in-demand careers.
The initiative includes support for skills training, employment transition services and programs that strengthen workforce stability across the region. Funding will also be used to back community-led projects that create new employment opportunities in areas affected by economic change.
In forestry communities, local transition tables will continue identifying immediate workforce needs and coordinating targeted responses for both workers and employers. The province is also increasing staffing levels to provide more direct support to affected workers while introducing new programs more quickly as labour market needs evolve.
WorkBC centres will play a key role by helping workers access career planning services, job-search assistance, skills training, wage subsidies and other financial support available through the province.
One of the projects receiving support is the College of New Caledonia’s DRIVE Program, an 18-week fully funded Class 2 and Class 3 commercial driver training course.
The program combines professional driver training with occupational skills development, industry-recognized certifications and job-search assistance to help participants enter the workforce quickly.
Graduates can earn certifications in air brakes, first aid, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods and defensive driving, providing qualifications that are widely sought across British Columbia.
The province notes that trained equipment operators and commercial drivers remain in high demand across industries such as construction, infrastructure, mining, forestry, transportation and natural resources, making programs like DRIVE an important part of meeting the region’s long-term workforce needs.
