Millennials are benefiting from starting small businesses, says a contractor for the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.

Drew Vincent, of the Okanagan Young Professionals Collective, said he sees millennials starting their own businesses and working at smaller companies or start-ups and attributes it to the drive young professionals have to want to make a difference.

91裸聊视频淩eally, the biggest thread is feeling like they make a contribution. Gone are the days of 91裸聊视频榮it down, shut up91裸聊视频� for 20 years and then you91裸聊视频檒l have a voice at the table,91裸聊视频� he said.

Millennials don91裸聊视频檛 necessarily thrive when they work in large corporate offices, but when they work with a small company and see something come to life, they are encouraged, he said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 having the opportunity to have the input but also working hard to achieve that end result,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hat theme that young people don91裸聊视频檛 work hard, I think it91裸聊视频檚 that they want to work smart.91裸聊视频�

Black Press is hosting a from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Capital News spoke with UBCO and Okanagan College to determine what young graduates are choosing for their careers and where they want to live.

91裸聊视频淚 think a lot of our students are finding work in the Okanagan. Of course when the oil patch was in full swing there were a lot of people headed north and to Alberta, but quite a few of them live in the Okanagan,91裸聊视频� said director of public affairs at Okanagan College Allan Coyle.

91裸聊视频淟ook at the construction industry (in the Okanagan) now. The trades are certainly booming here in the region,91裸聊视频� he said, adding he can91裸聊视频檛 specifically tell how many Okanagan College students are staying in the valley, but there has been an increase in interest in the trades, tech and tourism sectors.

The college91裸聊视频檚 business program has also been increasing.

According to Sharon De Vries, director of alumni services at UBC , she hears more stories of students starting their own career paths as entrepreneurs.

She estimated about 25 per cent of UBCO students come from the Okanagan and finds around 60 per cent of students overall indicate they want to stay and work in the Okanagan after graduation.

91裸聊视频淭hose are rough numbers because they do change,91裸聊视频� she said, adding young adults also tend to move around to build their careers.

With rental rates soaring in Vancouver, she said there91裸聊视频檚 more appeal to live in the Okanagan. However, primary living areas where graduates initially move to, continue to be in larger cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

91裸聊视频淲hen you91裸聊视频檙e looking to build a career the larger cities have more opportunity,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淵ou have to go where the work is as you build your career.91裸聊视频�

The Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair takes places on Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Kelowna Curling Club (551 Recreation Ave.), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info: facebook.com/BlackPressExtremeEducationandCareerFair