Skills training is essential in preparing youths for the roles they will hold in the future, political candidates said.
Speaking to high school students at Summerland Secondary School on Friday, the four provincial candidates in the Penticton riding said skills training is increasingly important.
Liberal candidate Dan Ashton said schools will need to change and provide more options for students.
“Academia is going to be less important and skills training is going to be more important,” he said.
Doug Maxwell of B.C. First agreed.
“You need to decide early which direction you want to go,” he said.
He added that skills training is needed so businesses will not have to import skilled workers.
Sean Upshaw of the Conservatives said an emphasis on skills training will be needed.
“There is going to be a skills shortage in British Columbia big time,” he said.
Richard Cannings of the New Democratic Party said the shortage is already evident as there are many companies which cannot hire local workers.
“We have all these jobs without people,” he said. “Investing in people is as important as investing in other things.”