The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce says the Trans Mountain pipeline could lead to skilled workers finding a new home in the Tournament Capital.

President Joshua Knaak says there always seems to be a shortage on trades and skilled labour, which is exacerbated by an unemployment rate of 3.5 per cent.

“We have seen, this was years ago, but when the economy slowed in northern Alberta, we saw a lot of those people moving back to Kamloops and looking for jobs. And at that point, we were able to absorb them. And maybe this is another opportunity where, again, we can attract people to our great city and bring them back or keep them around.”

Knaak also says work on the pipeline could entice some people who graduated high school and gone to trade school to still around Kamloops for the opportunities.