Barrie Day - Life-Role Development Group

The Work Dynamic in the First Decade

1. Economic Growth will Continue

• The world economy is expected to grow throughout the first decade of 2000. The Asian economy is not expected to be as strong as in previous decades but will continue to grow.
• China will continue to seek support to enter the WTO (World Trade Organization) thereby strengthening employment and a form of entrepreneurship in the country. Its entry will slow employment growth in goods-producing nations.
• Entertainment and Communications are forecast to have above average growth being fed by increased globalization.
• Travel and Tourism, Business Services, Food and Beverage and Logistics Industries will also grow during the decade.
• Technology will affect all economic sectors of the economy.
• Children (currently in the age category of 5-14) are becoming an ever more important part of the economy as their spending habits translate into billions of dollars.

2. The Nature of Employment Will Undergo a Fundamental Change

• Canada=s unemployment rate is expected to show a gradual decline over the next ten years.
• Periods of unemployment and underemployment will affect the older worker until the middle of the decade.
• Individuals without current knowledge and skills struggle to gain a permanent foothold in employment. A lack of education will also hold individuals away from meaningful employment.

3. Aging of the Workforce

• Some economic sectors will be affected by demographics as the average age of Canada=s workforce increases. Traditional sectors such as Mining, Forestry, Construction, Agriculture and Manufacturing will face shortages if the recruitment of younger people into the trades and technologies fails to replace older workers.
• Older workers who have accumulated personal savings or receive buyouts will choose alternate work patterns in order to integrate a preferred lifestyle with work-related activities that will enhance their income.
• Older workers reaching the age of 65 without the benefit of a solid pension plan will seek out paid activities to supplement their income.

4. The Nature of Western Canada's Population is Changing

• Aboriginal populations are growing and the levels of immigration will continue to rise.
• Due to the increased diversity of the population, public and private sectors will invest additional resources to integrate Aboriginal, Immigrant and Visible Minority populations into the workplace. Most of this emerging worker population is quite young and will require additional learning to be effective in the workplace.
• The insufficient literacy and numeracy skills required to meet everyday work demands will draw additional resources from all levels of government.

5. Public Sector Growth Will be Limited

• Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments will continue to reduce their deficits to work toward balancing their budgets.
• Government spending restraint will reduce employment growth in the publicly-funded sector. Government departments and agencies will increase their participation in public sector-private sector partnerships.
• There will be continued pressure for the downsizing of direct government employment leading to an increase in contracting-out arrangements.

6. Globalization will Lead to an Increase in the Use of Technology

• New technologies will spread information throughout the globe.
• Technology will replace direct jobs, especially in the goods-producing sector but will lead to overall growth in the workplace.
• Technology will also increase educational requirements in many workplaces. Workers will be required to increase their level of adaptability.
• The increased use of computers will require a greater level of literacy in the workplace.
• Information technologies will increase global trade potential. E-commerce systems will influence changes in the way goods and services are marketed.
• The notion of abundance will gradually replace current competitive practices. To enhance business opportunities, national and international firms will provide free or inexpensive products and services to consumers.
• Structural changes such as mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships will continue to increase in the private sector.
• Technological Acreativity@ centres will continue to emerge in Canada. Each centre will actively attempt to attract like-thinking companies and organizations.

7. The Workplace will Offer many Options

• Both the public and private sectors will experience a decline in permanent positions. The following work alternatives will increase in public sector organizations:
  • term positions
  • contracts
  • use of consultants
  • privatization (establishment of agencies to replace government departments.)
  • seasonal, part-time employment
• Self-employment will grow throughout the decade. Workers who are not able to fully support themselves through self-employment will seek out part-time employment or contract positions. They will be the new breed of multi-trackers.
• There will be a greater use of more flexible work arrangements such as tele-work (working from home), job sharing and work sharing. Workers will begin to pursue unpaid leave opportunities.
• New partnership models that bring private sector workers together with public sector employees will emerge in this decade.

Background

A number of significant forces will impact changes in most economic sectors in Canada. Although there will be a number of regional disparities in Canada in the next decade, the economy will continue to grow. In Western Canada, including the Northwest Territories, the primary resource sectors such as oil and gas and forestry can anticipate a high level of investment over the next decade as the demand for these products increases throughout the globe. The swings in levels of prosperity in these levels will depend upon the volatility of prices and levels of taxation levied on the products. The increased activity will attract population shifts from outside the provinces and territories. This will increase the demand for a variety of business, educational, health and social services. The need for consumer goods and construction will also grow.

Employment opportunities will accompany this growth. In order to capitalize on these opportunities workforce entrants will be required to gain additional education and skills through training and work experience.

Although services to business and government organizations will continue to grow steadily, the most rapid growth of all will be among high tech companies in the fields of telecommunications, business, electronic and computer applications. Individuals in rural and isolated communities will need to seek out education and training programs that will ready them for these opportunities if they are going to be competitive in these new workplace settings.

The following information will assist those who are looking for opportunities that fit their values, interests and specific beliefs. The primary focus of this information is designed to give career development practitioners an understanding of the portal, (entry to workplaces within each sector) and gateway, (pathways between sectors) roles that will begin to appear in the sectors.

A note to readers: The trends affecting on the following sectors are just that - an indication of where the action is going to be! Your efforts should include a thorough analysis of opportunities that fit your current and future aspirations.

Sectoral Shifts

Employment opportunities will continue to be shifted from the goods-producing sectors to service sectors of the economy. This shift is the result of the emergence of production facilities in third world countries and the introduction of technology to the goods-producing sectors thereby increasing the efficiency of workers within each sector. This shift has led to:

• lower employment growth rates than those in the service sectors.
• increased emphasis on communications in the workplace in order to accurately address the service sectors need for two-way dialogue necessary to satisfy customer needs and desired outcomes.

Business Services

• This sector includes a number of very large sub-sectors that are demonstrating comparatively high growth rates. The growth of these sub-sectors may not necessarily lead directly to huge gains in employment.
  • For instance, the finance sub-sector, especially banking, will downsize slightly as banking institutions increase their reliance on technology. Sectors such as computer services and software development will experience increased demand for talented human resources to meet these and similar needs.
• The increase in the number of aging baby boomers who are looking for stable retirement investments will increase the demand for financial and retirement planners.
• Home-based businesses, the self-employed and entrepreneurs will require a variety of business services in order to address their need for organization. Secretarial/print services, marketing services, accounting and legal services will be required as more individuals begin these work alternatives.
• The need for individuals and small businesses offering business services in the next 10 years will gradually escalate in northern and isolated centres to meet the demands of new initiatives.
• High levels of investment in the north will create high demands for engineering and project management expertise. Much of this service function will be filled by outsourcing to smaller companies.
• Exits of middle and senior managers from public and private sector organizations will lead to a demand in management consulting services, including the provision of coaching and training events.
• Commercial real estate services will out grow residential sales and services except in geographical areas that will be exposed to higher rates of immigration. Property management activities will also increase.

Logistics

• E-commerce activities will result in the creation of many additional roles in this sector. Courier services offered by large firms (Purolator, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service) will require additional human resources to gear up for the rise in consumer purchases on the internet.
• Warehousing and distributing (shipping and receiving) roles will also increase to meet the needs of the manufacturing industry. More firms are becoming involved in supply-chain management, by coming involved in value-added activities.
• Roles in purchasing and inventory management will be required to meet the demand of organizations involved in production, packaging and distribution of material. With the growth of activities such as desk-top publishing, small businesses will need the services product distributors.
• Firms in the transportation sector are becoming strong partners with firms involved in the logistics sector. Firms involved in transportation will feel an increased demand for workers involved activities using telecommunication systems in the trucking, aeronautic, and ocean shipping industries.
• The trucking industry will continue to seek young, alert drivers who are comfortable in being away from their home base for long periods of time.
• This sector will also require individuals who are prepared to launch small business enterprises required to courier products as contractors to the major courier firms. These small businesses will be needed in rural and isolated areas.
• Companies specializing in logistics and supply operations involved in the operation and maintenance of northern and isolated facilities will also require additional workers as potential sites open up.

Tourism and Hospitality

• A rise in international tourism will place additional demands on a variety of tourist sites.
• The trend toward adventure tourism will lead to growth of guiding and outfitting roles, especially in the north. Destination experiences, hunting and fishing expeditions, river and lake excursions will provide adventure tourists with the experiences they are beginning to demand.
• Eco-tourism is also on the rise. The number of eco-tourists will grow dramatically over the next 10 years. These groups will require knowledgeable guides who can take them to a variety of sites to experience the raw natural elements of Canada=s northern environments.
• Tourists will require a variety of support services thereby increasing the demand for workers involved in hospitality. This will lead to development of additional facilities that are away from the traditional paths of yesterdays tourists. Campsite facilities will require guides and outfitters who can provide appropriate services such as camping and cooking while maintaining a safe travelling environment.
• The growth of tourism will affect other sectors such as food/beverage and sport/recreation. Amusement services will also be required, especially by tourists from other countries. Local entertainment services such as the provision of aboriginal cultural experiences will be in demand.
• Foreign currencies that hold greater value than Canada=s, combined with an abundance of natural resources will result in the rapid growth of employment in this sector.

Environment

• Energy conservation will be an expanding component of the sector. Initially, many of the new environmental roles will either be within federal and provincial/territorial governments or environmental consulting firms who are contracted by government departments and agencies.
• Demand for natural gas will grow and overtake the use of coal and oil-based fuels. New finds in the northern areas of British Columbia, Alberta and throughout the western part of the Northwest Territories will be exploited in the next decade.
• Waste management technologies will drive the growth of businesses involved in the policy and protection sub-sector. Industrial and consumer waste management will offer an increased potential for growth, especially in the number of people required for entry level positions.
• Crop diversification and conservation efforts will reduce the use of pesticides. Organic farming and greenhouse operations will introduce systems designed to increase the health of soils.
• Impact assessment and reclamation will lead to increased demand for workers in the north. Reclamation campaigns will require a technical workforce where individuals have an enhanced understanding of hazardous wastes.
• The mining, forestry and energy sectors will increase the demand for business service companies that specialize in environmental assessment and management.
• Water and waste water management systems will grow to meet the increased demand for safe water supplies, especially in northern areas impacted by increased activity in the energy sectors.

Information Technology and Management

• Computer-assisted controls will have a negative impact on a number of different roles in the mining, manufacturing, and energy sectors. This will lead to a growing demand for very skilled people who are be required to design, build, operate and maintain process-oriented operations.
• A growth in the sales of service of computers and electronic equipment will lead to an increase in sales and service roles. Additionally, new roles in telecommunications and information management will emerge in public and private sector organizations.
• E-commerce and electronic mail order systems will increase the demand for software development, niche marketing and product promotion specialists.
• Information systems will change the nature of service within public libraries, schools and post-secondary institutes. Roles in information management will emerge from traditional roles such as librarian. Internet applications and web site developers will be required by public and private sector organizations who are expanding their influence to a wide range of consumers throughout the world.
• Home-based systems will lead to the growth of distance education services. Educational services will be provided by those with a background in education who are comfortable with computer applications. E-mail and chat-line services will change the nature of distance instruction.
• Information management specialists with competence in second and third languages will be required in private and public sector organizations throughout the world . Small start-up businesses who specialize in information management applications will prosper in the next decade.

Entertainment

• Multimedia entertainment will be available in many homes and offices in the next 10 years. Entertainment systems will increase in complexity and will require technical servicing from qualified technicians.
• The number of channels available on home entertainment systems will grow dramatically in the next decade. This growth with prompt the need for technical specialists in the film, television and music industries. Camera operators, editors, lighting and sound specialists will be required whenever new channels are approved by the CRTC.
• The increase in home and video entertainment potential will lead to an increase in demand for individuals in the performing arts. These artists will need to be very adaptable in order to meet the changing demands of the entertainment industry.
• The opportunities for home-based businesses (music, art studios) will increase due to the ability to produce high quality pictures and sound in a variety of settings. Musical artists can produce high quality CD=s in their home or garage. This will lead to the need for additional services in promotion, marketing and distribution.
• Edutainment (the combination of education and entertainment) is also a growing sub-sector within the sector. Video productions, CD Rom development and other art forms will be developed and used as forms of learning. Locally developed products will be produced for individuals and organizations throughout the world.
• Niche entertainment services are becoming popular, especially in areas visited by tourists. The growth of summer and winter festivals accompanied by learning activities will lead to greater opportunities for performers. The cultural components within the entertainment sector will also experience a growth cycle. Volunteer and paid positions will be required to develop and operate festivals and other events.

International Trade

• Canada will experience increased levels of world trade. Industries involved in international trade will become more efficient as they master the ability to produce materials Ajust in time@ to meet market demand. Employment in wholesale trade will increase slowly during the decade.
• International consumers will require a service focus thereby creating a demand for workers who can understand the cultural aspects and business patterns of the organizations and individuals they will be serving.
• Product development will require continual innovation. Northern workers involved in addressing the needs of organizations in other countries with a northern presence will need to respond to the specific needs of these perspective clients.
• The North American Free Trade Agreement will continue to open doors to the expanding markets in the United States. Northern expertise can develop a strong customer-service oriented consulting industry. Expertise in resource production in northern climates geophysical processing, mining (specifically gold and diamonds) and pipeline design and construction will be sought in the south.
• Former communist bloc countries will settle into economic and community development patterns similar to those in the west. Community development expertise will be sought after by a number of these companies.
• Trade barriers will fade in significance over the next decade as E-commerce becomes stronger. These initiatives will require workers who are familiar with internet systems.

Forestry and Wood Products

• Solid growth is in this industry is expected to continue through the first decade of the 21^st century. Forest management practices will lead to an additional need for specialist fire fighters and forest management specialists.
• Harvesting practices and reforestation activities will lead to a demand for engineering and construction services. New equipment will require more technically skilled workers. Advances in equipment will require additional expertise necessary to insure servicing and maintenance.
• Employment opportunities will expand in most areas of development, particularly in secondary manufacturing products such as log homes, cold-resistant windows and doors and architectural woodwork. Roles in these areas will require workers who have received additional training.
• The expansion of the export market will lead to an increase in employment opportunities. Additionally, the logistics sector will require workers who understand the nature of the forestry sector.
• High levels of construction activity will follow growth in the forestry and oil and gas sectors. Related manufacturing industries will grow to meet the demand for commercial and residential space.

Education and Training

• Increased activity in growing sectors such as Biotechnology will result in the creation of specific educational programs offered by public universities and colleges.
• Private sector learning organizations are being created to address the specific learning needs of workers in a variety of emerging sectors. These private learning initiatives will require instructors, curriculum writers and distance education specialists.
• Most jobs will require some form of post-secondary education or training. Workers who left the secondary school system before graduation will need to develop personal learning strategies to overcome any knowledge or skill deficit. Career counselling, coaching and tutorial services will fill this gap.
• The increased need for lifelong learning strategies, including the processes of skill upgrading will create the need for flexible and adaptable learning systems. The internet system and learning television (cable systems) will require technically-oriented workers who can develop and manage such learning systems.
• Higher than average population growth, due to migration of workers and their families and increased birth rates in aboriginal communities will lead to increased demands for teachers in the school systems. Teachers with special education backgrounds will be pursued by many school systems.
• A number of additional opportunities will emerge for educators who have expertise in specialized education programs. Those teachers who are familiar with a variety of cultures will find a number of different opportunities will become available to them. School systems are beginning to weave cultural components into the mainstream courses in elementary and secondary schools.

Police and Security Services

• Public and private sector police services will require additional workers in the next ten years. Aging baby boomers, and seniors are becoming more conscious of their safety and the security of their personal assets. This desire for increased levels of personal safety will lead to the creation and expansion of private sector security firms who specialize in personal security systems.
• Public sector police services (RCMP as well as municipal police services will experience a high turnover rate in the next five years as police officers who were hired in the late 1960's and early 1970's begin to move into retirement. These services will prefer to recruit individuals who have some post-secondary education. Additionally, these police services will pay special attention to the recruitment of individuals that meet the diversity requirements of the governments they serve.
• The trend toward alternate dispute resolution techniques such as the use of sentencing circles and sentencing alternatives will result in the need for workers who have obtained skill sets such as interest-based negotiation and mediation. These individuals will work with police services and court systems to reduce court time and costs. These changes will also have an impact on the provincial and territorial correction systems. Correction officers will also be required to gain these skills.
• Technological innovation will also create more work in this sector. The use of electronic monitoring systems, residential and commercial security systems will increase the demand for workers who are technically competent.
• With the increase in global travel security systems within airports and sea ports will need to be upgraded. Most of these security services are provided by private sector firms who will need to recruit additional workers to meet the increased workloads.

Health Services

• Diagnostic systems that are computer based will change the relationship that currently exists between physicians and technicians. As new diagnostic systems are developed medical technicians will be required to assist physicians with preliminary diagnoses.
• As the population ages the demand on health care services will increase. Nursing services will experience a shortfall of workers in the next 3-5 years that will not be met immediately by nursing schools. Nurse practitioners will be required to satisfy the expected shortfall of talent in rural and isolated posts.
• New medical breakthroughs, combined with new medical diagnostic equipment will enhance opportunities for workers in medical technology. New drug therapies will require individuals with a background in the pharmaceutical sector.
• Alternate health practices will grow steadily in popularity, especially with the baby boom population. This trend can be followed by reviewing the new courses and programs that will be offered in college and university settings in the next ten years. Currently roles in massage therapy, physiotherapy, meditation and relaxation therapy are gaining in popularity. These roles will be filled by entrepreneurs who gain the knowledge and specific skills required to offer services inside and out of treatment facilities.
• Traditional approaches to healing will regain stature between aboriginal groups and in communities where the expertise has been passed on by word of mouth from one generation to another.
• A new awareness of food preparation and nutrition will open up opportunities in the near future. As people become more aware of food allergies and their intolerance to specific substances they will begin to look for healthier substitutes. Again entrepreneurs will be the first group of people to capitalize on opportunities in food selection and preparation.

TRENDS AND ECONOMIC SHIFTS IMPACTING THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Career development practitioners, community development workers and economic development officers must be alert to the notion that trends and shifts are not greatly impacted by provincial and territorial borders! Although public sector initiatives tend to favour the use of local and regional companies and workers, private sector organizations are drawn to areas for two primary reasons: 

• opportunity When an opportunity presents itself, organizations will consider investments if it appears that the return on their investment is going to be worth the risk.
• talent Private sector organizations require human capital in order to succeed. A firm can have the best ideas in the world but if it is unable to attract the talent required to develop the ideas it will not proceed.

Given these broad assumptions it is important to review the specific trends and shifts that are taking place in the north. Remember the term work dynamic has been used to describe the nature of today=s work world. It recognizes the need for a fluid, adaptable workforce where workers can adjust to the ebb and flow of opportunity that occurs around them. The notion of such a work dynamic is especially important in the north where geography, climate and the population base present challenges that are quite specific. Keep the following in mind when looking at opportunities:

• The term, north, reflects a region, not political entities. For instance, opportunities that are presented in the energy sectors may arise in northern Alberta, northern British Columbia, Alaska, the Yukon, and Nunavut as well as in the Northwest Territories. Organizations involved in such initiatives are only concerned about what jurisdiction they are in when they are required to follow procedures established by the political entity that exists within it.
• Organizations will import talent if there is no expertise (or desire) in the geographical location where the opportunity presents itself.
• These same organizations, for the most part, are willing to participate in the development of local talent if the pool of human resources has the potential to contribute if learning and training is provided, and, the people who are eligible hold the necessary passion (values, beliefs and interests) to participate.
• The mobility of talent is becoming increasingly important to many organizations who are moving toward opportunities. If the return on a firm=s investment can be demonstrated, the firm will further invest in the movement of their talent to the opportunity.
• Political systems, the GNWT for example, are becoming increasingly interested in forming informal partnerships (P3 project) with organizations who have sought out opportunities. These partnerships are designed to add value to the local and regional economies and further develop the human resource base eligible for work (employment, contracts, consulting) within each initiative.

The next section looks at the trends, patterns and shifts that appear to present potential within the Northwest Territories and its neighbours. When considering the opportunities in the work dynamic you should acquire and practice a system of tracking and monitoring potential opportunities. To do so you should begin to identify the early signs of change and begin to keep track of those public and private sector organizations that have expressed an interest in further development. In order to do this you will need to establish and maintain relationships with colleagues who are working within the career, community and economic development fields. Partnering activities include:

1. The establishment of a monitoring system that involves a regular review of news releases, government announcements and technological innovations.

 Caution! Monitoring and recording information must be based on fact, not rumour! It is important to check out all information to determine its validity, especially as it relates to your geographical area and your clients.

2. The accumulation of information in a vertical file kept in a convenient location. Ready access to such information is essential.

3. Select from your relationships a small group of people, chosen because of their connections, diverse background and analytical skills, to pull together pieces of information that could be beneficial to you and your clients.

4. Verify your findings with the public and private sector organizations that will be involved in any initiatives.

5. Provide the information to your clients. The client now has the obligation to further verify the information and apply it to their decision-making criteria. Part of this verification will be to determine if the work opportunities that are appearing are relevant. This determination is the client=s responsibility!

6. Track the progress of any development or initiative in order to stay current, and to monitor its status.

The following information identifies some additional trends and potential shifts in development that warrant further monitoring. This information is specifically relevant in a number of geographic regions inside and out of the Northwest Territories.

The Construction Sector appears to be growing

• The NWT Construction Association is beginning to identify the potential for growth based on increased activity in diamond exploration, mining and energy development. A number of companies involved in these activities are taking a proactive approach to involving northern businesses in these developments.

   Caution: The GNWT is currently facing a deficit and will not take an active role in capital development of property until the deficit is under control. {an author's note - based on past experiences it is apparent that provincial and territorial governments are more responsive to deficit control}

• The GNWT is interested in pursuing a new approach (P3) that would see developers providing a facility and then leasing it back to government. This appears to have demonstrated some initial successes.
• Projects contemplated in northern Alberta and British Columbia will offer a number of opportunities for qualified tradespeople. These energy and forestry related projects will create an increased demand for small commercial buildings and residences.
• Home and small business property renovations are becoming more popular. This trend will result in a growing need in the construction trades and the potential growth in the retail sector of specialty Abig box@ stores that will provide consultative expertise to home owners and the material required for the renovations. Retail operations such as this will set up in centres with larger populations.

The north is attracting the attention of individuals and groups involved in Adventure Tourism

• The number of tourists from Asia who are coming to the north has increased annually. Natural attractions such as the northern lights are a part of the draw to the north. The tourism service industry will increase the level and quality of service to these groups. Additional experiential activities will draw more people when they are aware of all the options available to them in the north.
• Parks Canada has just recently become an agency, rather than a federal government department. While its new mandate is still in the process of being created, it is apparent that it is interested in further promoting Wood Buffalo National Park as an environmentally friendly tourism destination site.
• This shift has been noted by monitoring the increase in the number of people who are camping in the South Slave region. Non-resident tourists, many from Alberta and British Columbia, are seeking out campsites.
• Eco-tourism, adventure tourism, bird watching, water-based travel, camping, hiking, hunting and fishing activities will continue to draw higher numbers to the north. These people will require additional services including accommodation, food and beverage, guiding and outfitting.
• Road construction projects such as the road being built through the Park will require road construction workers, forestry workers and environmental technicians. Many of these roles will be seasonal due to weather restrictions. The skills acquired in these projects, however, will offer transferable opportunities to many of the workers who will be eligible for work in the oil and gas industry.

The growth in the world economy is increasing the demand for natural gas and fossil fuels

• Employment opportunities in this sector will continue to grow in the north as companies seek to develop resources that, in the past, were too costly to develop. Additionally, companies in the energy sector are seeking out additional resources in areas that have the potential for development. The Deh Cho region will be the first benefactor of this development.
• Energy companies will require support services such as camp site development, food services, logistic services for supplies and infrastructure development. Partnerships between companies and local communities will lead to greater employment.
• Post secondary institutes such as Aurora College are able to establish locally-based skill development programs that will allow local workforces to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to find and maintain work in this sector. Many of these on-site training ventures will require instructors with specific technical skill sets. Additionally, adult education instructors will be required to offer academic upgrading and self management courses.

The arts and crafts sector of the economy is attracting the attention of national and foreign markets.

• The marketing of northern products has been enhanced with the introduction of e-commerce systems. The internet will make it easier to attract the attention of southern and foreign markets. Small arts and craft oriented businesses and northern cooperatives can expand their enterprises through these internet systems.
• The increase in the number of tourists, business travellers, migrant workers and local purchasers will lead to additional work for local crafters and artists. These people will require assistance to improve their products, identify product trends, obtain additional equipment and supplies and gain a number of additional business skills to capture some of the increased potential that is presenting itself.

Public sector employment will become more diverse

• The increase in economic activity in the north will result in an increase in activity in northern communities. Band councils, regional economic and community development agencies, city and town councils and agencies are increasing activities aimed at adding value to their constituents and developing expertise in their workplaces. Work in these organizations will include employment, contract and consulting activities.
• Community development specialists will begin to focus on the personal and skill development of individuals. This shift will result in the informal partnering of workers in a number of departments. Their work will feature the creation of partnerships with the private sector and will involve Aurora College instructional staff.

These shifts and trend indicators offer a number of examples of the potential that will exist in the short term in the north. The rest is up to you. You will need to establish and maintain a personal system of information gathering and analysis in order to make sense out of workplace changes as the north begins to gain additional momentum into the first decade of the 21^st century.