VANCOUVER — The BC Progress Board released a report today on human capital ‒ the stock of knowledge, skills, and abilities embodied in individuals that determines their level of productivity. "Human Capital and Productivity in British Columbia" was produced by Alexander Murray and Andrew Sharpe of the Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS).

"In most respects, British Columbia performs extremely well in human capital development and is above average according to the majority of indicators analyzed, relative to both the rest of Canada and OECD countries", noted Board Chair Gerry Martin.

Specifically, BC has the lowest high-school dropout rate in the country, above average scores on international literacy and secondary school tests, an above average proportion of people with university degrees, above average investment and average spending.

Martin went on to note "There is room for improvement, however." The report identifies four key areas in which improvements would be likely to contribute to productivity growth in British Columbia: the underutilization of the skills of recent immigrants; the poor educational outcomes of Aboriginal people; below-average production of advanced human capital through graduate training; and the problem of high school non-completion. A key feature is the section on groups with the most pressing challenges, recent immigrants and Aboriginals.

Martin also added that "Although British Columbia's performance is above average in three of the four areas which form the focus of the report ‒ and actually leads the country in two ‒ they are highlighted because of their importance to long-term productivity growth."

In addition to recommendations for improvement, the report includes an overview of the importance of human capital to productivity growth and summaries of British Columbia's human capital infrastructure and outcomes.

An Executive Summary with the four groups of recommendations is available on the BC Progress Board website.

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Media Contacts:
Joel Emes,
Acting Executive Director, BC Progress Board
604-775-2126

Andrew Sharpe,
Executive Director, Centre for the Study of Living Standards
613-233-8891