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Employment
Construction
Construction labour jobs, mostly in subdivision developments, are generally available to experienced, skilled workers but most will end with the building boom that the area has been enjoying for the past few years.
Service Industry (retail, tourism, etc.)
The service, retail and tourism sectors are the major employers in Pender Harbour, with a high demand for seasonal, minimum-wage workers in food and beverage service.
Civil Service
The Sunshine Coast’s largest employer of office and professional positions is the Sunshine Coast Regional District government. Wages and benefits are excellent, and a variety of positions are regularly advertised.
Commercial Fishing
Also seasonal but better paid are jobs in fish processing. Commercial fishing deckhands are hired every year, but the positions are rarely advertised.
Logging and Mining
The best-paid jobs are in the resource industries of logging and mining, but vacant positions are rare and hiring is usually accomplished through in-house referral.
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Industry
Service/Tourism Sector
The retail and service/tourism sector has high representation, but it’s a frustrating business in Pender Harbour. With virtually no affordable rental housing and an aging population, it’s difficult to find staff for jobs that are typically low-wage and seasonal.
2007 was a disappointing year for most tourism operators in Pender Harbour, with many regular visitors opting for holidays south of the border where the Canadian dollar enjoys more strength than it has in decades. Similarly, American visitors see better value in spending their vacation dollars at home.
Construction
Building construction is booming, but is predicted to sharply decline as a number of large developments are completed. Most projects will be done in about three years and there is little subdividable property left on the market.
Resource Based Industry
Other important industries are logging and aquaculture/commercial fishing, with a lesser amount of marine transportation and mining (gravel extraction). Fishing and logging were the primary industries in the area for decades, but have greatly diminished from environmental regulations and world market competition.
Construction Aggregates Ltd. (Lehigh) in Sechelt operates the largest gravel extraction business in North America for the Sechelt Indian Band.
Home Based Business
Entrepreneurs abound in Pender Harbour, with home-based businesses offering a variety of personal and business services as well as the sale of art and craft items. These business owners rarely hire employees and the business is rarely their sole source of income.
Underground Economy
No community is without an underground economy, and fortunately ours is pretty much limited to the occasional pot plantation and folks happy to work for undeclared cash payment.
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Business Organizations
Pender Harbour & District Chamber of Commerce
For more information, e-mail chamber@penderharbour.ca.
Pender Harbour Growth & Development Partnership
E-mail Larry Curtiss
The Pender Harbour Growth and Development Partnership formed in 1999 with the lofty goal of making Pender Harbour, “...the finest of places of live, work, and enjoy for residents and visitors alike” by beautifying the community and encouraging economic development, with assistance from Community Futures and other stakeholders. Their projects include beautification of downtown Madeira Park and development of the Iris Griffith Wetlands. In 2007, the group was awarded a grant for eco/cultural tourism development.
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BC Salmon Farmers’ Association - Target Marine Products
Community Futures Development Corporation of the Sunshine Coast
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