Acknowledgements

I approached this revision with excitement, looking forward to comparing today's labour market to the descriptions in the first edition. Five years have passed since Diane Alfred's and my initial research. How had the projection of labour market trends in the first book unfolded? Had the predictions come true, and had the trends developed in the directions expected? Were there major new trends or were the previous ones still carrying the day? What new developments were shaping today's reality?

I knew that the key to successful completion of this revised version would be the help I would receive from a wide range of contributors and collaborators. I needed up-to-date information, comments and analysis from experts in their fields. The world seemed to have gotten busier, and I wondered if those I asked for help would have the time to accommodate this project. My worries proved unfounded when the people I approached responded with exceptional support.

From the receptionists who directed me to the appropriate person, to the staff who did research behind the scenes, to those who gave me references and tips on where else to go for information, their input was of great value.

There were several people who went above and beyond the call of duty who wrote and edited portions of the text. I am grateful to:

• Claudine Wilson of Algonquin College for her generous contribution of time to create the public relations information text boxes in Chapter 3;
• Wayne Roth, Paul Boisvenue and Carol Poulin of the Applied Research Branch, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) for their patient, detailed explanations and fine-toothed combing of the statistical graphs and explanations in Chapter 3;
• Caroline Tompkins of the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) for her updated information on global business and the referral for the story of "Katherine" in Chapter 2;
• Sharon Nield of the Canadian Nurses Association for her informed input on the trends in health care in Chapter 2;
• the HRDC regional economists, Don Cochrane, Rob Raisbeck, Andre Desnoyers, Art Williams, Jonathan Dutton; and Stephen Pal, Economist, Youth and Labour Market Services, Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, British Columbia who created the tables for the provincial graphs in Chapter 3;
• Paul Brennan of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges for his thoughtful contribution of education trends and resources in Chapter 6;
• Clara Hamory for her revisions to the National Occupational Classifications section;
• the sector council directors and marketing people who reviewed the summary tables and provided updated information.

The staff at Statistics Canada, Industry Canada, the Department of Finance Canada, and HRDC went out of their way to provide resources and information.

A special thank you to Jim Howie of the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development for encouraging the project from its inception, offering financial support and for his continued input throughout, including his very relevant comments in the review of the draft. The Board of Governors of the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF) took time from their busy schedules to contribute valuable input in their reviews and comments. Wendy Fox, JudyLynn Archer, and Michael Huston volunteered timely, relevant and detailed input that improved the book immensely.

A big thank you to Marie-Anne Bedard of CCDF for her dedication in creating the figures and tables for the book, and the staff at CCDF for their support, including "honourary" staff member Alan Landsberg.

Further gratitude is extended to the staff at PMF Editorial Services for professional services provided and Dick Kemp and the staff at Phoenix Graphics for their hard work and quick turn around times. Appreciation is also extended to Keith Dunbar and Lisa Fox of the Centre for Curriculum Transfer and Technology for managing the British Columbia component of the work.

Thanks to Debbi Bryson of the Applied Research Branch for her dedicated support and readiness to liaise and to connect me to relevant, helpful resource people.

The financial support of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, British Columbia; Human Resources Development Canada, BC/Yukon Region, Strategic Services; and Applied Research Branch, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada made this publication possible.

Elaine O'Reilly, January 2001