A shift in supply and demand expected to hit B.C. in 2016 means employers are expected to have a difficult time finding well-educated people to fill positions.

This ominous jobs deficit forecast, put out by the Research UniversitiesB次元官网网址� Council of British Columbia this week, comes with a call to action from the presidents of six B.C. universities asking for better funding from the provincial government. They say thatB次元官网网址檚 the only way a deficit will be avoided.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 simple: weB次元官网网址檙e not educating enough people,B次元官网网址� said Allan Cahoon, president of Royal Roads University.

B次元官网网址淏.C. has historically made up for that deficit with in-migration from other provinces, but thatB次元官网网址檚 in decline. WeB次元官网网址檙e also going to see an increase in the number of people retiring, and thereB次元官网网址檚 a shortage of talent coming out of our universities.B次元官网网址�

In 2016, 5,900 jobs will go unfilled in B.C. due to a skills deficit, they say. By 2020, that number is expected to balloon to 18,800.

David Turpin, president of the University of Victoria, says the deficit will come in a variety of jobs spanning many sectors.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be all across the board. Some of the big ones are areas such as supervisors, nurse supervisors, registered nurses, teachers, auditors, managers in retail, all types of engineers,B次元官网网址� he said.

The RUCBC is calling on the government to take three steps immediately to reverse the forecasted skills gap: secure space for 11,000 new students in universities, colleges and trades schools over the next four years; improve financial assistance programs (grants, scholarships loans); and commit to improve B.C.B次元官网网址檚 research and innovation potential.

B次元官网网址淢oving up into election environment, itB次元官网网址檚 absolutely critical that this province be able to educate the young people so that they can succeed in the new economy,B次元官网网址� Turpin said.

Advanced Education Minister John Yap did not return phone calls.