If you believed certain editorialists you might get the impression that the trades are the only area where BC is facing a skills shortage, and that a university education is a poor pathway to employment.
 
But the BC Labour Market Profile released today by the Research Universities Council of BC (RUCBC) proves otherwise.  
 
The profile draws on data from the province and Statistics Canada and confirms that, without immediate action, BC will experience a severe skills and talent deficit starting in 2016.
 
This shortage will span jobs requiring university, college and trades training: in 2020, for example, almost 19,000 jobs will go unfilled, almost half of which will require a university degree.     
 
The report also offers evidence that a university degree continues to be an excellent employment credential.  
 
University graduates earn more and experience lower unemployment than those with other post-secondary credentials.

Moreover, the 2011 Baccalaureate Graduates Survey shows that, within five years of graduation, 95 per cent of university graduates work at positions in line with their education.
 
SFU students already understand these facts.  
 
In SFU’s fall undergraduate survey, the most commonly cited reason given for attending SFU was to obtain a good job.

At the same time, the skill most frequently mentioned as the one graduates should possess was an ability to think critically.
 
Clearly SFU students "get" what some editorial writers apparently do not: that success in today’s dynamic employment market depends on the ability to research, analyse and evaluate problems, in addition to being able to apply pre-existing skills and knowledge.
 
If British Columbia hopes to address this looming skills deficit, we must act now to expand post-secondary spaces at all levels.
 
We must give all qualified students the chance to fulfill their potential and realize their dreams. 

We need to reverse the trend that, over the past five years, has made it more difficult for domestic students to gain admission to SFU.   
 
To this end, RUCBC is renewing its call on all political parties to support an Opportunity Agenda for BC which aims to:

• add 11,000 new university, college and trades training spaces over the next four years;
• increase student financial support; and
• place renewed focus on research and innovation.

In today's world, our most valuable asset is not machinery, resources or capital.

An educated citizenry is the best, and most lasting, investment governments can make.