Workforce challenges reflected in low unemployment

Every year, The Chamber conducts a survey of our membership to help us stay on top of issues affecting your business. One of the challenges that has been near the top of list for more than a decade is finding and keeping workers.

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that, at 4.3%, Greater Victoria has third lowest unemployment rate in the country. The solution is complex and involves addressing the cost of living for working families. We need fewer regulatory burdens so that we can attract investment in housing, child care and transportation — three of the highest costs families face when considering where they will live and work.

The Chamber has called for regional exemptions to immigration policies, such as Temporary Foreign Workers, that many organizations in our region have relied on. We want the federal and provincial governments to acknowledge that a one-size-fits-all approach is flawed, and that our region should not be punished because of the actions of bad actors in other jurisdictions.