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For The Record

WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE

Nov. 9, 2009
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
 

Women and the Economy

  • Since December 2001, British Columbia's economy has generated more than 363,000 additional jobs, with over half of these new jobs filled by women.
  • A total of 1,080,200 women were working in British Columbia in October 2009, an increase of over 186,500 compared with December 2001.
  • More than 73 per cent of the 186,500new jobs for women created since December 2001 are full-time positions.  
  • Female labour force participation is at one of its highest levels on record - 61.4 per cent in October 2009.
  • According to Statistics Canada's October 2009 Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate for women in B.C. was seven per cent, 1.3 percentage points lower than the provincial average of 8.3 per cent.
  • More than 34 per cent of small businesses in British Columbia are owned by women.

Women and Advanced Education

  • In 2007, women made up 57 per cent of students in public B.C. research universities and 53 per cent of students in B.C. public colleges, special purpose / teaching universities and institutes. 
  • The B.C. government's loan-reduction program is aimed primarily at low-income households and people with dependants. This year, the Province forgave more than $71 million in student loans, and of about 20,000 people who benefited, over 60 per cent were women.
  • Female students also receive over 60 per cent of the student loan funding provided interest-free to students from British Columbia while they are in full- time post-secondary studies.
  • The Industry Training Authority is working with secondary and post- secondary institutions and industry to encourage and support more women to pursue a career in the trades.
  • At the end of 2008-09, 3,454 women were registered in apprenticeship programs. Of those, 810 women were registered in trades training programs managed by the Construction Industry Training Organization.  

Employment Support for Women

  • The Province is investing over $350,000 in the Women's Mentorship Program, which helps women reach their economic potential by supporting them to enter or re-enter the workforce. The program serves immigrant and Aboriginal women, women entering non-traditional fields or starting their own small businesses, and women facing added barriers to employment.
  • Through the ITA, the Province is investing over $4 million for five projects to enable more women to begin a career in the trades. In the next 12 months, 700 women are expected to be served through these projects.
  • The Province continues to invest over $70 million a year in employment and other programs for income assistance clients. These programs include:
    • A specialized Bridging Employment Program, which since January 2009 alone has helped nearly 800 women who have faced violence and other forms of abuse move towards independence and employment.
    • The B.C. Employment Program, which since 2006 has provided 20,000 women with the supports and training they need to find and keep good jobs.
    • The Community Assistance Program, which since 2006 has provided life-skills services and supports to about 6,000 women who have multiple barriers to independence.
    • Under this program, for example, Family Services of Greater Vancouver provides personal counselling and support to women at risk, as well as life skills including self care, self-esteem building, stress management and trauma counselling.

Support for Child Care

  • Since 2001, the Province has provided funding to create more than 6,500 new licensed child-care spaces throughout British Columbia.
  • B.C. provides ongoing funds for more than 90,000 licensed family and group child- care spaces across the province.
  • The Province is investing $148 million in the Child Care Subsidy program this year - an increase of $8 million over last fiscal year.
  • The subsidy program supports about 50,000 children over the course of the year.
  • The B.C. government has increased the out-of-school child-care subsidy rate, benefiting more than 12,000 children aged six to 12.
  • The Province has extended the kindergarten subsidy rate to carry on through the entire school year, rather than when children turn six.
  • Government has committed $151 million over two years to implement optional full-day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full-day kindergarten will be available for 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010 and for every five-year-old starting school in 2011.
  • The Province has committed $43 million for the expansion of StrongStart BC programs - a free early learning program for preschool-aged children accompanied by a parent or caregiver. There are more than 300 StrongStart BC programs operating in B.C.