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May 21, 2008 Red Carpet program to roll out to attract doctors
May 5, 2008 1st Quarter nets 230 jobs in Kamloops
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British Columbia is home to a well developed call center industry performing business in domestic and international markets. An estimated 140 call centers ranging from 25-1200 agents reside in our province. There are also about 1,500 smaller call centers in the 6-25 employee range. Total employment in the industry is estimated over 30,000.
Overview
Reasons to locate in Kamloops
Labour Market
Labour Costs
Federal Government Programs
Provincial Government Programs
Lifestyle
In January 2000, Convergys Corporation, an outsourcing company, announced Kamloops as the site of their 600 seat call center, the largest call center in B.C. At the official announcement of the call center, Convergys officials were quoted as saying: °The quality of the people here, the availability, we're going to have a very high-quality call centre The availability of a suitable location was also a significant factor in the decision to locate in Kamloops.
In addition to the advantages noted by Convergys, low business costs and outstanding lifestyle attract both large and small businesses to Kamloops. A wonderful city in which to live and work, Kamloops lives up to its name °The City of Opportunity.
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(a) Excellent Selection of Commercial Real Estate
Currently, there is an excellent selection of commercial and industrial real estate in Kamloops. Costs to lease, purchase or build are low.
(b) Highly Skilled, Available Workforce
Kamloops region has a labour pool of over 60,000 people with diversified skills and experience. The most recent census data for Kamloops shows more people employed in the service sector than in any other industry. A relatively high unemployment rate means employers have access to highly skilled, qualified employees.
Kamloops is home of the Thomppson Rivers University (TRU), a degree granting institution that also offers a wide range of technical and vocational programs. With an average of 1,200 graduates a year, UCC is instrumental in providing 55% of the population of the Kamloops Region with a post-secondary education.
(c) Highly Developed Communications Infrastructure
Kamloops is considered to be on par with major metropolitan areas in terms of communications infrastructure. An extensive distribution of fiber optic network allows for the ability to provide high speed digital voice and data access. Kamloops is an ATM serving area with fiber connectivity to both interoffice facilities for data and access to inter-change carriers. Services available include: ISDN, DSL, Frame Relay, DS3, T1, T3, E10 and E100. A 99.999% uptime rate is guaranteed, with multi-redundant service capabilities.
There are four long distance and international telecommunications service providers in the area. All systems are fed back Kamloops on a separate fiber trunk and backed up in a seismographically correct building.
(d) Low Business Costs
In a recent study by KPMG, 2002: A Comparison of Business Costs in North America, Europe, and Japan, Kamloops placed second overall in the Pacific North American region. Out of the 7 Canadian cities involved in the study, Kamloops placed second in four categories and seven major index criteria ¨C Manufacturing: Food Processing, Precision Components, Pharmaceuticals, and Specialty Chemicals; Software: Advanced Software and Content Development; and Corporate Services: Shared Services Center.
The overall average for Kamloops was lower than Canada's national average at 85.3. As a result of this, Kamloops represents a 14.7% cost advantage over the United States, a 1.6% advantage over the United Kingdom, a 3.3% advantage over Italy, a 5.5% advantage over Austria, a 16.6% advantage over Germany, and a 32.5% advantage over Japan.
(e) Most affordable place to live in North America
Kamloops ranked 1st out of 302 North American cities in the latest American Chamber of Commerce Research Associations (ACCRA) Cost of Living Index. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures differences between municipalities in the cost of consumer goods and services for professional and managerial households. The average composite index of all participating cities is equal to 100. Anything above 100 is interpreted as a higher than average cost of living, while a composite index below 100 is seen as lower. Kamloops composite index rating was 83.3 for the 1st Quarter of 2002. The report is primarily used by business owners, site locators and real estate consultants who are looking at expanding into new markets.
(f) The City Where Business and Pleasure Meet
The following quotes demonstrate the advantages of locating a business in Kamloops:
The quality of the people here, the availability --we're going to have a very high-quality centre... G. Griffin, Convergys Director of Planning
Kamloops is situated between Calgary and Vancouver. Good land prices, demographics and a high average income sold us. And, we really like the big city facilities in Kamloops. D. Beardsell, Bear Brewing Company Ltd.
(a) Labour Market Information-General
Kamloops has a relatively high unemployment rate (currently estimated at between 9 and 11%) compared to many U.S. cities. This means there is a large available population base from which to hire employees. Many unemployed people in Kamloops are high school and post-secondary graduates. Kamloops is also the home of Thompson Rivers University. Not only does this institution offer a large variety of academic, trade and technical programs, it ensures a large pool of skilled part-time workers.
The following charts highlight local labour market information:
Population (2001 census)
Kamloops
60 minute commute (TNRD)
80,000
120, 0000
Includes the Thompson Nicola Regional
Regional District: Clinton/Cache Creek/
Ashcroft/Chase/Logan Lake/Merritt/Lytton
(b) Labour Market Information ¨C Call Centres
Kamloops & area
65,000
1200
(estimate)
650
1,300
1,950
*Source: CB Richard Ellis Information Services, Bureau Labor Statistics
(a) Wages
Currently, the minimum wage in B.C. is $8.00 ($6.03 US) per hour. Typically, call centre entry level pay ranges from $9.00 to $11.00 ($5.93-$7.26 US) per hour.
(b) Length of Standard Work Week
(c) Statutory Holidays
British Columbia has 9 paid statutory holidays per year (Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory paid holidays).
(d) Mandatory Employer Related Costs (Revue Canada 2002)
The following chart summarizes mandatory employer related costs:
Description
Approximate Cost
Canada Pension Plan
(annual maximum of $1,801.80 ($812.67 US) per employee)
Employment Insurance
2.94% of earnings
(annual maximum of $1,392.30 ($953.63 US) per employee)
Workers' Compensation
www.worksafebc.com
Vacation Pay
4.0% of earnings**
*Rate per $100 ($68.49 US) of payroll).
**Employees are entitled to 2 weeks paid vacation per year (approx. 4% of gross earnings).
(e) Employer Sponsored Benefits
While many smaller companies do not always offer a benefit package to their employees, larger employers tend to offer a package that includes basic medical insurance plus extended health, dental and disability benefits. Such packages are offered on an employer paid or cost share basis.
All Canadians are required to carry basic medical insurance (unlike in the US where such insurance is provided by the private sector). Basic medical insurance costs are: $32.00 ($21.92 US) per month for a single person, $64.00 ($43.84 US) per month for a 2 person household and $72.00 ($49.32 US) per month for a 3+ person household.
BUSINESS LICENSING & REGISTRATION
All businesses in Kamloops require a business license from the City of Kamloops. It is possible to license a Kamloops business at www.kamloops.ca or by e-mailing blicensed@kamloops.ca.
FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYERS
Both the Federal and Provincial Governments have funding programs available to employers. We have highlighted several programs which are potentially available to employers in the Kamloops area. Please note there is no guarantee a company will receive funding from any of these programs. Our office would be pleased to assist in negotiating with the Federal and Provincial Governments to try and secure funding for your business.
(a) Job Creation Partnerships
The purpose of Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) is to create sustainable employment in the local community.
A JCP could fund up to 25% of total employees, assuming that this 25% meet eligible participant criteria - currently on Employment Insurance (EI), had a claim for EI within the last three years, or had a claim for EI maternity or paternity benefits within the last 5 years and are re-entering the work force. Human Resources Development Canada (HRSDC) contracts with the employer and is responsible for paying participants (employees) an income based on the prevailing wage rate for that occupation. The employer is not responsible for mandatory employer costs during the JCP contract.
(b) Targeted Wage Subsidies
Targeted Wage Subsidies (TWS) apply to individuals who are having difficulty finding work and have established a claim for Employment Insurance benefits. Local Human Resource Centres of Canada and/or partner agencies can offer temporary wage subsidies to employers as an incentive to hire individuals. The maximum allowable wage subsidy is 60% of the total wages paid to the individual for the period of the agreement. Average duration of a TWS is between 26 and 30 weeks. In Kamloops, this program is negotiated and implemented through a local community coordinator.
(c) Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
The objective of the Opportunities Fund is to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and keep employment. The Opportunities Fund supports a broad array of employment activities by persons who are not eligible for EI benefits.
Financial assistance through the Opportunities Fund can be used for activities such as: encouraging employers to hire workers with disabilities, helping persons with disabilities to increase their employment skill level; assisting persons with disabilities to integrate into the workplace through services tailored to meet their special needs; and providing personal supports required to enable persons with disabilities to participate in employment and employment services.
(a) BC Works! Workplace Based Training
The BC Works! Workplace Based Training program works with individuals on income assistance who are ready to return to work. BC Works! Recruits, screens and refers job-ready candidates for interview, reimburses training costs up to $3,000 ($2,055 US) for every person hired and provides on-going follow-up and support.
It is important to note that 50% of the training funds are non-specific, which means that half of the funds are to be used directly for client training. The remaining money may be used to train existing staff such as supervisory training, workshops, seminars and/or computer training.
Employee turnover in Kamloops is low because people love to live here and its no wonder why. Kamloops offers a relaxed lifestyle in a spectacular, natural setting ¨C a mix of sage lands, pine forests, mountains, lakes and rivers. The summers are hot and dry, while in winter, snow falls at the higher elevations and mild temperatures prevail in the low lying area. Kamloops receives more than 2000 hours of sunshine annually.
Opportunities abound for world-class hiking, mountain biking and skiing. Ten golf courses in the immediate area cater to the golf enthusiast. Two hundred lakes, all within a 40 mile radius of downtown Kamloops, provide unlimited opportunities for fishing and water sports. Numerous tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, pools, and fitness centers facilitate the avid sports buff.
The Kamloops Art Gallery and Museum are both located downtown and offer ever changing shows and exhibitions. The Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and the Western Canada Theatre Company perform regularly and there is always something happening at the 5,000 seat Riverside Coliseum. The nightclubs, pubs and coffeehouses often host local entertainers and each night during July and August, there is Music in the Park.
The many parks in Kamloops, (McArthur Island, Riverside, Pioneer and Kenna Cartwright) are wonderful places to walk, jog, cycle and roller blade. The Kamloops Wildlife Park, which is nationally recognized for excellence in its efforts to conserve and preserve the environment, and the many provincial parks around Kamloops are also popular with local residents.
As the official Tournament Capital of BC, Kamloops hosts numerous tournaments and exhibitions throughout the year. Kamloops hosted the 1993 Canada Summer Games, the 1996 Labatt Briar, the 1998 World Curling Championships and Skate Canada. Kamloops is also home to the Kamloops Blazers, three time winners of the Memorial Cup of the Western Hockey League.
It's easy to understand why the people of Kamloops say, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
