The Columbia Basin-Boundary region, like many rural regions, is confronted with a growing gap between the types of skills that workers have obtained and the skills that are required by employers. A recent survey of employers in the Columbia Basin-Boundary region conducted by the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI) highlights concerns related to key aspects of workforce development, including training, recruitment, and retention challenges.

Workforce development is defined as “the co-ordination of public and private sector policies and programmes that provides individuals with the opportunity for a sustainable livelihood and helps organizations achieve exemplary goals, consistent with the societal context.” It is focused not only on job training and recruitment, but also long-term retention and career advancement.