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The provincial government is providing $6.1 million for 1,429 additional critical-trades seats in 14 public post-secondary institutions throughout the province, including in Kelowna.
The new seats will help reduce waitlists by an average of 44 per cent for students entering trades that are in demand.
"These critical-trades seats match training with jobs in demand," said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. "The shift in education and training to align with jobs in demand benefits students, employers and the provincial economy."
The seats include 783 foundation seats and 646 apprenticeship seats in critical trades such as electricians, plumbers, heavy duty mechanics, pipefitters and power engineers. Okanagan College will receive $766,560 for 152 trades seats including 16 foundation seats for welding, 32 for carpentry, 36 for electrical, 18 for heavy mechanical trades, 18 for professional cook, and 32 level B seats for welding.
B.C. expects one million job openings by 2022. More than 78 per cent of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, and 44 per cent of jobs will be in skilled trades and technical occupations.
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