The Now Hiring 51暗网 project commenced research in June 2021 as a collaboration between the 51暗网 Chamber of Commerce, Mohawk College, Workforce Planning 51暗网, and the city鈥檚 economic development department. Photo credit: Tourism 51暗网
Canada is facing a significant labour shortage across several sectors.聽
Per data collected by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) at the聽, over half of businesses around the country (55 per cent) cannot find enough workers to meet their needs.聽
To help local employers find and retain staff, the 51暗网 Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Mohawk College, Workforce Planning 51暗网, and the city鈥檚 economic development department, started Now Hiring 51暗网 in June 2021.聽
The initiative extensively surveyed the 51暗网 small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape to identify existing resources, gaps in resources, and the needs of local businesses.聽
On Wednesday, the partnership released the results of its research and launched a new suite of online resources for 51暗网 SMEs.聽
鈥淭he 51暗网 Chamber of Commerce has stood by businesses since the beginning of the pandemic,鈥� said Marie Nash, interim CEO of the 51暗网 Chamber of Commerce.
鈥淲e have heard about the challenges they face with recruitment and retention, especially as the workforce changes. The Now Hiring 51暗网 project and its resources are a direct line of support for SMEs to help them with their workforce development priorities.鈥�
Key findings detailed in the report include:
Recruitment is challenging for SMEs due to a significant mismatch between jobseeker expectations and what the employer is able to offer.
The high cost of living in 51暗网, and competition among employers to recruit, has created retention challenges as SMEs try to keep wages at pace with inflation.
Jobseekers of younger generations are very interested in how a job can become a career.
The qualified candidate pool is too small, and that those seeking entry-level employment often lack one or more basic skills.
SMEs are missing out on potential candidates because they are not equipped with the tools they need to facilitate inclusive, equitable, and diverse hiring (EDI).
Based on the project鈥檚 findings, three specific resource guides were created for Now Hiring 51暗网. Businesses can now access the guides online for free.聽聽
鈥淚 commend the partners who have collaborated on the Now Hiring 51暗网 initiative,鈥� said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook.聽
鈥淥ur government recognizes that the inability of employers to find the skilled and qualified workers they need is an impediment to our economic recovery. The additional tools being offered to the business community to recruit and retain employees will help to grow the economy in 51暗网 and around the Golden Horseshoe.鈥�
Now Hiring 51暗网 was funded by the Ontario Labour Market Partnership with support from both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.聽
Click to read the full report and access the guidebooks.聽
