Canada looking for Irish workers

Irish Times – 26 February 2012

Canada is looking for 335,000 carpenters, electricians, welders, plumbers, heavy equipment operators and millwrights.

A delegation from western Canada is visiting Dublin this week in an effort to recruit thousands of workers for the construction and related trades.

The delegation, which includes representatives of the British Columbia Construction Association, Alberta Construction Association and senior officials from the British Columbian Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation hope to identify sources of skilled labour.

The delegation will beholding talks with the Department of Trade and Foreign Affairs, the Departmentof Education and Skills, Fás, the Construction Industry Federation, the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, the Dublin Institute of Technology and the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee of Fás.

It will also be attending the Dublin Working Abroad Expo/Jobs Fair next week.

There are a projected 335,000 job opportunities arising in British Columbia and Alberta between now and 2014, especially in construction. The biggest demand relates to carpenters, electricians, welders, plumbers, heavy equipment operators and millwrights.

Canada differs from many countries seeking workers abroad in that it encourages long term inward migration by specified groups and also facilitates family settlement.

Comment:

It appears that we could certainly learn a lesson from the Canadians. When you have a need, go out and aggressively seek a solution to fill that need wherever you feel that the solution can best be found. I have no doubts that there are generous incentives and wages offered for qualified prospective Irish applicants who might want to take advantage of these job opportunities. Canadians do not seem to be bogged down with seeking legislative approval to fill a need for qualified workers whether they come from Canada or from Ireland. Canada’s gain is a very real loss for Ireland first and foremost and a potential one for the U.S. while our legislators continue to engage in their usual game of partisan politics with regard to the immigration issue.

Jack Meehan, Past National President

Ancient Order of Hibernians in America