By Kendall Robertson

A Shift In Student Learning

Sep 14, 2018 | 2:40 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- The College of New Caledonia says it’s seen a dramatic change in the way students are choosing to learn. Over the last few years, it says more and more students are attending school during all three semesters instead of sticking to the traditional two semesters. Acting VP Academic, Chad Thompson, says that may be because the job force has changed in recent years. “The summer jobs that I had as a student, which would support me most of the way through the school year, no longer are able to do that,” said Thompson, “more students are wanting to fast-track their education to move out into a better paying job.”

The odds are good for students looking for jobs in the city, as August’s unemployment rate in Prince George came out to be 4.4%. That’s one of the lowest numbers in the country for medium-sized cities. It’s especially good news for trades students. “BC leads the country in the lowest unemployment rate and when you hear of all the construction that’s going on whether that’s in the Okanagan or here,” said economist, Stan Mitchell, “there’s a lot of talk about what’s coming…and all of that involves tradespeople.”