School first

CANADA: Rich in oil, the Canadian province of Alberta has more jobs than people to fill them. This is good news for the local economy, but bad news for young people, says the province’s education minister.

That’s because youth are leaving high school to take jobs in industry. Alberta has one of the highest school dropout rates in Canada, at 13 per cent. In rural porr areas, that figure is as high as 20 per cent.

Education Minister Dave Hancock says companies should therefore refuse to hire high school dropouts as a way of encouraging youth to finish school. “It’s not a good idea for business to entice people away from school,” Hancock told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “I think all of us need to be able to say to children, this may look like a good short-term opportunity, but in the long term you need your education.”

Heather Douglas, head of the chamber of commerce, says that businesses are concerned about young people dropping out of school in favour of jobs on oil rigs. But she adds that most young people go back to school within five years. Working on oil rigs helps youngsters mature and “find out what they want to be. They go back to school and they are very effective in the workforce,” Douglas told the Canadian Press.

• Visit the Calgary Chamber of Commerce