Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News Archives - Page 2 of 21

2024’s labour market plan is published

by WPBGE | Mar 1, 2024 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

2024’s labour market plan for Grand Erie talks about the need for all players in the local labour force to work together to manage expectations in the face of disruptions caused by external factors.

The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s newest labour market plan is titled Moving Beyond Disruption: Managing Expectations for Tomorrow’s Workforce.

The planning board publishes a report each year with support from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

The 50-page report drew on community input and data analysis to paint a picture of the labour market in Brantford, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant counties.

Danette Dalton, the planning board’s executive director, said that Grand Erie’s labour market has been impacted over the last year by disruptions caused from inflation, foreign conflicts, climate change and the emergence of AI. Those disruptions are expected to continue.

“Moving beyond disruption means we need to take the time to make sustainable decisions that are supportive of our workforce, our businesses, our communities and our environment – today and in the future,” said Dalton.

Job seekers, workers and businesses have different priorities and expectations on a wide number of labour issues, from wages to skills training, from flexible work to diversity. But the different groups will have to work together constructively, compromising sometimes, in order to cope with the disruptions.

Dalton said 2024’s labour market plan confirms the need for continued investment in skills training and upgrading, especially for residents not participating in the labour market. And work needs to continue to support groups that have been historically underrepresented in the labour market, including residents who are Indigenous, racialized, newcomers, people with disabilities and youth.

“Workforce development strategies for Grand Erie need to be human-centred. There are many people who feel overwhelmed by the disruptions that have taken place and don’t think they have a place in today’s labour market. They need our support.”

English and French versions of Moving Beyond Disruption can be found on our website HERE

January 2024 job numbers for area

by WPBGE | Feb 9, 2024 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

January 2024 employment numbers for Brantford-Brant showed a slight increase in the local jobless rate.

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate last month was 4.9%, up from December’s 4.3, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey figures, which were released Friday.

Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7% last month, while Ontario’s rate was unchanged at 6.2%.

There were signs in January that local employers were looking to fill more positions, and that more people were searching for work.

“Continued economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and the end of seasonal work are the likely
culprits for the percentage increase”, said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive
director. “We have seen a somewhat consistent trend at the start of every new year with an increase in
the jobless rate as seasonal work wraps up and businesses prepare for the new year.”

Dalton said in addition to the new year employment trend, there is a struggle to balance affordability and
sustainability which is on the minds of every business owner and individual these days. It will be important
to focus on resiliency moving forward.

January saw 2,075 new job posts – a 32% increase over December – on Grand Erie Jobs, the online job board run by the Workforce Planning Board. Meanwhile, the number of job seekers clicking on job posts doubled.

The largest share of advertised jobs was in the health care and social assistance field, with 100 postings for nurses, 100 for home support workers, 60 for licensed practical nurses, and another 60 for social and community service workers.

However, retail salesperson remained the most advertised job, with 108, while secondary school teachers and food service supervisors also made the Top 5.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the January 2024 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

2023 closes strong for local job numbers

by WPBGE | Jan 9, 2024 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

December 2023 employment numbers saw Brantford area close out the year strong, maintaining its position as having one of the lowest jobless rates in Ontario.

Brantford-Brant’s unemployment rate last month was 4.3%, up from November’s 4.2%, according to Statistics Canada, which conducts a monthly survey of residents conducted in the first week of December.

The survey estimated that employment grew by several hundred jobs last month, pushing up the employment rate to a six-month high.

There is limited Statistics Canada data for Norfolk, but the unemployment rate has hovered below 5% over the last six months.

Canada’s unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 5.8%, while Ontario’s rate increased to 6.3% due to an estimated 48,000 fewer people working.

The Brantford-Brant jobless rate was tied for third lowest in the province, only behind Belleville and Peterborough and matching Thunder Bay.

Over the course of 2023, the area unemployment rate has ranged from a high of 6.8% in January to a low of 3.9% in June. For the last few months, the rate has been just above 4%.

There were about 1,600 new positions and 3,400 total active jobs posted last month on Grand Erie Jobs, the online job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board. There were about 1,250 employers looking for workers.

The number of jobs advertised online by Grand Erie employers has been declining in recent months, a yearly seasonal trend that has been seen across Ontario on job boards operated by two dozen workforce planning boards.

Retail salesperson was the top advertised job last month, locally and across Ontario. Health care and food industry jobs accounted for the rest of the Top 5 postings in Grand Erie, similar to what was seen elsewhere in the Hamilton-Niagara region.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the December 2023 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

November job figures among Ontario’s best

by WPBGE | Dec 1, 2023 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

November 2023 employment figures showed that unemployment inched up in Brantford-Brant, despite the addition of several hundred jobs.

Last month’s local jobless rate climbed to 4.2%, up from 4.1% the previous month, even though employment grew by an estimated 500 people, according to the latest labour force survey from Statistics Canada. That increase in jobs caused the local employment rate to improve slightly to 63.3%.

Canada continues to add jobs but that hasn’t kept up with the country’s population growth. November saw employment increase by 25,000 jobs across Canada, but the unemployment rate still increased by 0.1% percentage points to 5.8% due to 78,000 working age people joining the labour pool. Ontario’s unemployment rate fell by 0.1% to 6.1%.

The Brantford area continues to boast the lowest jobless rate compared to neighbouring communities, and is the second lowest in the province, second only to Peterborough’s impressive 2.3%

Yet, while local employment numbers have been trending upwards over the last few months, there’s still room for improvement, said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board.

“Compared to this time last year, some of our local job numbers look better, but others don’t, frankly,” Dalton said. “Our unemployment rate in November 2022 was worse at 5.9%, but more people were participating in the labour force and were employed. Looking just at the jobless rate doesn’t tell the whole story.”

Dalton said that the employment rate a year ago was almost 3% higher than last month, and there were fewer people described as Not in the Labour Force: neither employed nor unemployed.

“But 2022 saw incredible, hard-to-beat job growth in our area, to put it in perspective. The 2023 year hasn’t seen as many gains in employment, but the numbers have been improving recently and we hope that continues into next year,” she said.

Retail salesperson was the No. 1 job advertised in November on Grand Erie Jobs, the job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board. Close to 200 of the 1,800 jobs were in retail, while another 100 were for shelf stockers and order fillers. Other top jobs included home support workers and material handlers.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the November 2023 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

October sees better employment numbers

by WPBGE | Nov 7, 2023 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

October 2023 employment numbers saw the Brantford area’s jobless rate fall, reversing some recent job losses.

The Brantford-Brant unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, down from September’s 4.7%, according to seasonally adjusted estimates from Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey.

By comparison, both the national and provincial unemployment rates grew. Canada’s increased to 5.7% despite employment growing by a modest 18,000, while Ontario saw its rate climb to 6.2%. Canada’s job growth has been unable to keep up with population growth.

Brantford gained an estimated 900 jobs in October, bouncing back from weaker numbers seen for the previous two months.

The local job market also maintained its bragging rights of having the lowest unemployment rate compared to nearby communities. Hamilton was the next lowest at 5.2%.

Brantford and Hamilton job numbers moved in the same direction last month. Both areas grew their labour forces, increased employment – particularly in service industries such as transportation, warehousing and education – and saw fewer people out of work.

“There’s a lot of similarity right now between the labour markets in Brantford and Hamilton,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforc Planning Board’s executive director. “There are thousands of people who commute daily between the communities in each direction.”

There were about 1,900 job postings in October on Grand Erie Jobs, the community online job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board. That was down 19% from September and 3% fewer companies posted positions.

“There has been a decline in the number of online job postings over the last several months, but that isn’t unusual,” Dalton said. “There’s a seasonal nature to the labour market and hiring can slow in the Fall months and then pick up in January. The same was true last year.”

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their news release on the October 2023 employment numbers for Canada and Ontario.

Job numbers stayed steady in September

by WPBGE | Oct 10, 2023 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

September 2023 employment numbers showed that the Brantford area job market held steady last month and even recovered some recent lost ground.

Brantford-Brant’s jobless rate last month was 4.7%, a small drop from August’s 4.8%, according to Statistics Canada’s seasonally adjusted numbers. Norfolk’s job numbers showed the jobless rate hovering around 4.5% over the last few months.

Canadian employment grew by 64,000 in September, though the national jobless rate remained unchanged at 5.5%. Ontario added some jobs but the unemployment rate still nudged up to 6%.

September 2023 employment statistics showed that Brantford area has the lowest unemployment rate compared to the nearby communities of Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, London, Guelph and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo.

After shrinking in recent months, the overall size of the labour pool increased in Brantford in September.

“Hopefully the number of people who are active in the labour force, working or looking for work, continues to improve, reversing the recent negative trend,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director. “It’s good to remind people that there are many opportunities out there.”

A Fall Job Fair with about 35 businesses who are hiring is taking place Oct. 11 at Brantford’s Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre. The job fair is organized by three local employment centres and the Workforce Planning Board.

Job seekers who go to the job fair are being encouraged to dress to impress employers and to bring their resumes, as some employers will be doing on-the-spot interviews.

September saw more than 2,300 new job postings appear on Grand Erie Jobs, the community’s job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board.

The average wage listed in job posts was about $24 an hour in September, which was similar to recent months but $1.80 more than September 2022.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read their report on September 2023 employment-related figures for Canada and Ontario.