The gaps are everywhere.

In operations, in innovation, in sustainability and in digital marketing.

Kelowna-based Vinica Education Society is pointing out the critical workforce gaps in the BC wine industry.

A comprehensive labour market assessment commissioned by Vinica Education Society shows the situation will only get worse over the next five years.

Photo credit: Wine Growers of British ColumbiaIn the near future the BC wine industry will need more operational, innovation, sustainability and marketing workers and there may not be enough skilled workers to fill the demand.

"BC's wine industry stands at a pivotal moment," said Vinica past-president Chris Mann.

"Climate challenges, digital transformation and shifting consumer demographics are creating new career pathways that require specialized training and diverse perspectives."

Vinica had Terroir Consulting of Kelowna do the study by surveying wine industry shareholders at wineries, hospitality businesses and educational institutions, as well as drawing on secondary research.

There tends to be enough skilled winemakers and general managers to fill those essential jobs.

However, there's an increased need and labour shortage for specialized new generation jobs in markeing and digital marketing, sustainability, operations and e-commerce.

Digitial marketing managers are needed to address the 23% increase in Canadian wine exports and to engage tech-savvy younger wine drinkers.

Sustainability managers are needed to implement climate adaption strategies following recent environment events like the heat dome of 2021, wildfires of 2023 and the deep freeze of 2024.

The report also discovered that the average age of a winery owner is 57.5 years, an indication that there's an urgent need to develop the next generation to take over when the existing one starts to retire.

Only 9% of winery owners are under the age of 35.

Vinica is a not-for-profit society that offers wine leadership programs, skills development and an Equity in Wine Leadership program to encourage more Indigenous, Black and people of cooour to get into the wine industry.

Vinica is spotlighting Isabella Rivero as a successful Equity in Wine Leadership program graduate.

Rivero works as the communications coordinator for the BC Wine Grape Council and is planting vineyards at Fairmeade Estate Winery in Langley.

Photo credit: VinicaIsabella Rivero is an Equity in Wine Leadership program graduate who is now working at the BC Wine Grape Council and Fairmeade Estate Winery in Langley.

The wine sector generated $11.5 billion in revenue nationally in 2019 and supports 45,000 jobs.

In BC, 91,900 job openings in tourism and hospitality are expected through 2033, some of it related to wine.

Vinica said those numbers show that skills training is much needed to keep the important wine industry growing and thriving.