Shaping the Future of Work in Squamish: What You Need to Know About the Labour Force Development Plan

The Labour Force Development plan is asking businesses and entrepreneurs to have their say to help the future of Squamish's workforce.

Squamish is growing, and with that growth comes new opportunities, changing workforce needs, and challenges for both employers and residents. To help the community prepare, the District of Squamish is creating a Labour Force Development Plan to guide workforce development over the next decade.

The plan will look at where Squamish’s workforce is today, where it is heading, and what we can do now to make sure local people and businesses are prepared for the future.

What is the Labour Force Development Plan?

The Labour Force Development Plan is a community-wide effort to better understand Squamish’s current and future workforce needs and identify practical ways to address them.

The plan will explore questions such as: What jobs are needed now and in the future? What skills and training will people need to succeed? What challenges are workers and employers facing? How can Squamish grow jobs in the circular economy?  How can Squamish improve IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility) and advance economic reconciliation through partnership with Squamish Nation? And how can local organizations work together to create more employment and training opportunities?

It also aims to uncover opportunities to advance building a more circular economy in order to reduce waste and make the most of resources.

Ultimately, the plan will provide a roadmap for action, including recommendations for key industries and sectors, practical actions that can be funded and implemented, and a clear understanding of who can lead the work, how it can be funded, and how progress can be measured.

Why does it matter?

Squamish is growing quickly, and the workforce needs to grow and adapt alongside the community.

Local employers need access to people with the right skills, while residents need opportunities to find meaningful work, develop their skills, and build careers locally. At the same time, rising housing costs, changing industries and climate goals are creating both challenges and new opportunities for the local economy.

Understanding these changes is an important first step towards preparing for them.

The Labour Force Development Plan will help build a shared picture of Squamish’s workforce and create a common vision for what the future of work could look like. It will also help local organizations coordinate their efforts, rather than tackling workforce challenges in isolation.

What does the plan hope to achieve?

The plan is intended to be more than a report. It will identify practical steps that employers, training providers, government, Indigenous partners and community organizations can take together.

Some of the key outcomes will include:

• A clearer picture of Squamish’s current workforce and future employment needs, including where the gaps are and what is changing.

• Recommendations for key industries and sectors.

• Practical, fundable actions that organizations can work on together.

• Opportunities to support Indigenous economic participation and reconciliation.

• A roadmap identifying who will lead different actions, how they can be funded, and how success can be measured.

How can you get involved?

The Labour Force Development Plan will only be as useful as the information and ideas that go into it. That is why community participation is an important part of the process.

There are several ways to contribute, and you can take part in as many as you like.

• Employer Survey: Employers can share information about their current hiring needs, workforce challenges and future opportunities. This input will help build a better understanding of what local businesses need from the workforce now and in the years ahead.

• Worker and Job Seeker Survey: Workers, job seekers, students and anyone interested in the future of work in Squamish can share their experiences and perspectives through the worker and job seeker survey.

• Key Informant Interviews: Confidential interviews will be held with leaders from employer, education, government, Indigenous and community sectors to explore workforce issues and opportunities in greater depth.

• Co-Design Design Labs: One or two cross-sector workshops will bring together employers, workers, educators, Indigenous partners and community organizations to test draft strategies and help shape potential solutions.

• Roundtable Dialogues: Five sector-specific working sessions will explore workforce needs and opportunities in areas such as green construction, regenerative agriculture, tourism and outdoor recreation, and clean-tech.

You can find all of these surveys and opportunities for involvement on the Labour Force Development Plan page here.

Help shape the future of work in Squamish

By sharing your experiences, ideas and priorities, you can help ensure the Labour Force Development Plan reflects the realities of the people and businesses that make up our community.