VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Good news if you’re looking for a job, as a new survey finds more businesses plan to hire people next year.

“Especially here in BC, it looks like 27 per cent of businesses said that they plan to hire more employees next year,” explains Stuart MacFarland with BMO. “That’s a good news story for BC, good news story for those looking for work or graduating from university.”

Just over 70 per cent of businesses are confident about 2013 and are looking to become more productive, by not only hiring more folks but by upgrading and buying new equipment.

MacFarland says the two booming industries are manufacturing and retail but one problem managers are facing is hiring and retaining talented workers.

“If you look at as far as the retailers are concerned, the fact that they’re having difficulty keeping hold of people is because people who are getting experience want to better themselves and they’re going forward, looking for better jobs.”

MacFarland says the government is feeling pretty optimistic about the future with the GDP in this province growing by 2.5 per cent over the next year.