I was reminded this week of Dr. Roslyn Kunin’s keynote at the Western Canada Career Development Association symposium last May after reading a recent Business in Vancouver article featuring her. At the time, she was unpacking the early signals around tariffs and economic uncertainty. Seeing her quoted again in current labour market reporting, it’s clear that many of those warnings are now playing out in BC's labour market.
Dr. Kunin framed the economy through four simple lenses: consumer spending, business investment, government spending, and exports. Today, each of these is under pressure. Consumers are feeling the strain of rising housing, food, and everyday costs, and affordability concerns are starting to affect confidence. Businesses want to invest but are hesitating amid ongoing uncertainty tied to tariffs and inflation. Governments, which helped stabilize the economy during COVID through heavy spending, are now more constrained. In BC, rising debt has already translated into higher borrowing costs. Exports remain particularly vulnerable, with so much of Canada’s trade tied to the U.S. and tariff policies that no longer reflect how modern economies function.
Dr. Kunin was blunt about the outlook: this period of economic strain is likely to last as long as tariff disputes continue.
She also spoke candidly about the labour market. We are seeing fewer entry-level workers as birth rates decline and access to international students and temporary foreign workers tightens. At the same time, automation and AI are reshaping work across sectors, particularly for junior and mid-level roles. For people with general degrees and no specialized skills, competition is intensifying. None of this is news to those who work in our sector!
What stayed with me most was her focus on practical solutions. She stressed the urgent need for faster, simpler credential recognition and for removing long-standing barriers that prevent internationally trained talent from contributing fully. She challenged us to move beyond insisting on “Canadian experience” and to ensure training genuinely aligns with employer needs.
She also reminded us not to overlook entrepreneurship. Sometimes opportunity doesn’t come from a job posting, but from identifying a service someone is willing to pay for. She shared the story of an immigrant who, unable to find work, started a small business helping seniors get their garbage and recycling to the curb.
As ASPECT members continue to navigate cautious employers, increased contract work, and growing client complexity, Dr. Kunin’s message feels timely and validates the work happening in community-based employment services around the province. In uncertain times, your collective insight and adaptability matter more than ever.
Janet Morris-Reade, CEO
ASPET BC
