Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News Archives - Page 6 of 21

Local unemployment drops once again

by WPBGE | Jun 10, 2022 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

May 2022 employment numbers show Brantford’s jobless is now the lowest in southern Ontario, after it dropped for the sixth straight month.

The city’s unemployment rate declined to 4.6% in May, down from April’s 4.8%, according to seasonally adjusted estimates released by Statistics Canada on Friday.

In Ontario, only Belleville, Sudbury and Thunder Bay have jobless rates lower than Brantford-Brant. The rates for the adjacent communities of Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo are just above 5%.

Canada’s economy added 40,000 jobs in May, driven by job gains for women, dropping the national monthly unemployment rate to 5.1% – a new record low. Ontario’s rate was little changed at 5.5%.

Brantford’s jobless rate has fallen by a full 3% in the last six months, the largest decline among all Ontario communities surveyed, as well as provincially and nationally.

“The recent decline in Brantford’s jobless rate has been impressive,” said Danette Dalton, executive director. “That doesn’t mean there still aren’t challenges or room for improvement in the local labour market.”

Dalton said that even though unemployment has dropped, there are still fewer people participating in the labour market than six months ago.

“There are about 2,000 less people in the labour force, which is contributing to a tight labour market and making it difficult for some employers to fill job openings,” she said. “They want to hire but they can’t find the people.”

Grand Erie Jobs, the Workforce Planning Board’s community job board, saw more than 4,000 new job postings in May, on par with last month’ Employers with the most job postings included Wilfrid Laurier, Brant Community Healthcare System, Lowe’s, and local governments.

May 2022 employment statistics also showed am increase in part-time work and a drop in full-time work. This is most noticeable among women and among all workers 15 to 24 in age, many of whom work in the service industry. Month-over-month, meanwhile, May employment grew the most in manufacturing, according to Statistics Canada..

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read its news release on May 2022 employment in Canada and Ontario.

Summer student jobs and youth resources

by WPBGE | Jun 10, 2022 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Companies around the Grand Erie region are currently hiring for summer student positions. These companies include Piller’s Fine Foods, Circle Square Ranch, Maple Leaf Foods, Linde Canada and Grand River Employment and Training.

Our Grand Erie Job Board allows youth to search for summer jobs in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Six Nations and New Credit. Currently dozens and dozens of summer student job openings are posted in the area.

Many non-profit community agencies such as Community Addictions and Mental Health Services of Haldimand and Norfolk, Habitat for Humanity, Norfolk Association for Community Living, Alzheimer Society and Lions McInnes House are currently advertising for summer students under a special government program called Canada Summer Jobs. All Canada Summer Jobs are searchable here: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth

The COVID-19 Pandemic has added unique challenges for youth and their ability to find employment during the past few years. Help is available to youth who lack information about employment programs and job searching tools – and with their summer job hunt.

Educational institutions and area organization such as St. Leonard’s Community Services, Brantford-Brant Business Resource Centre (BRC), CareerLink and other regional employment service providers offer various programs and services across our region to not only help young people find a summer job; but for graduating students or for youth not in school – their first full time job and to also help those interested in learning how they can start their own business.

For example, aspiring entrepreneurs ages 15 to 29 years old can apply for the Summer Company Student Grant Program offered through Brantford-Brant Business Resource Centre to students living in the City of Brantford, County of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties, and Six Nations of the Grand River.

The program lets students take the plunge into business ownership and teaches them how to problem solve, communicate effectively, and the importance of a strong work ethic. Students will also learn all aspects of running a business including how to manage their business finances, marketing and sales, customer service, building and controlling inventory and the behind the scenes work that is required to operate a successful business.

Successful applicants receive up to $1,500 to assist with start-up costs and an additional $1,500 on completion of the program.

Other Local Youth Employment Resources:

Grand Erie District School Board: Home :: Grand Erie District School Board

CareerLink: About :: Career Link

St. Leonard’s Community Services Wrap Program: Youth Employment Skills Strategy – Work Readiness and Advancement Program (WRAP) | St. Leonard’s (st-leonards.com)

Brant Skills Centre: Brant Skills Centre

G.R.E.A.T: The Student Office – GREAT (greatsn.com)

Fanshawe Community Career and Employment Services: Community Career and Employment Services (Simcoe) | Fanshawe College

City School by Mohawk: City School by Mohawk | Mohawk College

Brantford Business Resource Centre: Business Resource Centre – City of Brantford – Economic Development (advantagebrantford.ca)

First Work: First Work – Ontario’s Youth Employment Network

First Work Aspire Initiative: Home – Youth Aspire

Wilfrid Laurier University LaunchPad: LaunchPad | Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation | Students – Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)

Wilfrid Laurier University: Career and Employment Support | Students – Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)

Conestoga College: https://studentsuccess.conestogac.on.ca/myCareer

Six Nations Polytechnic: Careers | Six Nations Polytechnic (snpolytechnic.com)CareerLink: Job Seeker :: Career Link

Contact North: Welcome to contactnorth.ca | Contact North | contactnorth.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association Brant Haldimand Norfolk: CMHA Brant Haldimand Norfolk – Mental Health for All

Grand Erie Jobs: https://workforceplanningboard.org/find-jobs/

Brantford jobless rate continues to slide

by WPBGE | May 6, 2022 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

April 2022 employment numbers for Brantford showed the jobless rate decline for the 5th straight month.

April’s unemployment rate fell to 4.8%, from 5.1% in March, the lowest since January 2020, according to Statistics Canada’s latest survey of Brantford area residents.

Brantford has a lower unemployment rate than the nearby communities of Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, St. Catharines-Niagara and Guelph, while London recorded the same 4.8% figure.

April 2022 employment was little changed across Canada, with the national jobless rate inching down to 5.2%. Ontario’s unemployment rate inched up to 5.4%.

Canada’s unemployment rate for people in the core working ages of 25 to 54 was 4.3%, the lowest since comparable data became available in 1976.

“There are signs of an increasingly tight labour force in the Brantford area,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director. “The number of residents participating in the labour market has declined, meaning there are fewer potential workers for our employers to draw on.”

Since April 2021, the Brantford area labour force has shrunk by an estimated 3,300 people, a figure that includes 1,800 fewer employed. Meanwhile, the percentage of adults participating in the labour force fell 3.6%.

Dalton said there’s still a strong appetite from employers for workers, with lots of competition for a smaller pool of potential workers.

There were a record 4,100 postings in April on Grand Erie Jobs, the region’s largest job board that is operated by the Workforce Planning Board.

“The number of companies looking for and competing for workers has increased, and businesses are doing more to stand out, including participating in job fairs and advertising more,” Dalton said.

“Firms are also focusing on keeping the workers they have, either by increasing wages and benefits, or improving work-life balance for employees. A survey the Workforce Planning Board conducted last year showed that people are attracted to workplaces that offer good work-life balance.”

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read its news release on April 2022 employment in Canada and Ontario.

Employers to benefit from welding program

by WPBGE | May 5, 2022 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Employers need welders.

There are major labour shortages across the skill trades, particularly in welding and many companies are struggling to find the workers they need. Maybe this describes your company.

In response to the need for welders in the labour market, the Workforce Planning board of Grand Erie is running a new FREE WELDING TRAINING program called Skills2Advance Welding. This short-term training is being offered in partnership with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Foundation, four area colleges and other training providers.

We invite businesses who need welders to partner with us.

There are two main ways to benefit from being an employer partner: businesses can send their existing employees for this free training, or they can hire graduates of the program. Or both.

Learn more here: https://www.skills2advance.com/employers-welding

About the program

Skills2Advance is a 2-week training program:

The first week of the program will be an introduction to welding, with hands-on training in core welding techniques. Participants can get their Fillet Weld Certificate from CWB. This one-week training will hopefully determine if the participants have the aptitude and interest to continue in the welding trade.
The second week will see participants gain training in forklift, reach truck, first aid, CPR and more. There is also a strong emphasis on soft skills such as workplace communication, teamwork, problem solving and conflict resolution.

This second week of training is optional for participants who are referred by their employers for skills uptraining.

Skills2Advance Welding offers two streams of training, called Mind Over Metal and Women of Steel.

The training is the same for each program, but Women of Steel allows women to learn welding alongside other women. It is part of an effort to get more women into the trades, helping to address the labour shortage employers are facing. See our website https://www.skills2advance.com/ for more information.

Get involved

As a local welding employer, you can get involved by:

Referring current (non-welding or less experienced) employees who have an interest in welding to see if they have the aptitude to pursue welding as a trade
Becoming a guest speaker for one or more of our classes, giving you an opportunity to promote your opportunities
Being on our advisory committee to help inform the program and provide input into training

By becoming an employer partner, businesses get the advantage of continuously being able to send any new or existing employees for the free training through our program. Employer partners also get first chance to review graduates of the program who are looking to find work or continue their welding education.

Employer benefits

There are many benefits to employers who get involved, including:

Get skilled & entry-level ready workers
Lower cost of training
Fill vacant positions more quickly
Skilled2Advance Welding is FREE

In late May, we will be having a virtual Information Session via Zoom that will serve as an orientation session for any businesses and organizations that are interested in getting involved. Contact us if you want to be notified about the Information Session details.

Any questions about the program can be directed to: skills2advance@workforceplannningboard.org or call 519-756-1116, ext. 223 or text Mikki at 519-732-4068

Apotex hiring event April 28th

by WPBGE | Apr 19, 2022 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Apotex Pharmachem is a division of Apotex Inc., Canada’s largest generic pharmaceutical company. Apotex Pharmachem is located in Brantford and offers research, development, and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as other therapeutic medicines which contribute to improving access to medicines for millions of people worldwide.

Apotex Pharmachem employs a highly-skilled Canadian workforce and they are currently hiring for several key positions including entry level Chemical Operator and Chemical Maintenance Technician – and they are holding a recruitment event on April 28th from 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm to interview for these positions! A college education is an asset but not required for all positions. Those interested can register for one-on-one interviews with the Apotex team through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/Yca1kSw1NN

About Apotex Pharmachem:

Apotex Pharmachem Inc. is a fully integrated state-of-the-art Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Research & Development and Multi-Purpose Manufacturing Facility. It is the largest API producer in Canada. Founded in Brantford, Ontario and member of the Apotex Group of companies since 1996, Apotex Pharmachem is designed as a full-service model including research and development, manufacturing and distribution of our active pharmaceutical ingredients. Through creativity, innovation and continuous improvement of our facilities, processes and procedures, as well as ongoing training of our highly skilled and qualified people, we assure compliance and adherence to national and international regulatory requirements, globally recognized benchmark quality standards, and our customers’ needs.

Where they are located: 34-54 Spalding Dr, Brantford, ON

“We have an incredible team of bright, passionate, and committed individuals who are proudly dedicated to our mission of bringing a growing array of high quality, affordable medicines to healthcare systems in 115 countries around the globe.

We offer competitive pay, exceptional career development, state-of-the-art facilities, and the opportunity to work with leaders in the field. But we also offer something more… the satisfaction that comes from knowing that the medication we produce will improve the quality of human lives, and in some cases, save them. Our products, most importantly, are also accessible by people from all economic backgrounds. We’d love to hear how you could contribute to the team!”

Watch Apotex Video: https://youtu.be/UA6Z9Lq4dDA

Apotex Values

“Our culture is guided by our core values of Collaboration, Courage, Perseverance and Passion. They inform how we work as well as how we connect internally and externally with our customers, partners and other stakeholders. Our leadership team is focused on growing and sustaining the Canadian business and maintaining thousands of high-quality, highly skilled jobs in our country.”

What is Apotex doing to provide a safe experience for candidates during the hiring process?

Apotex has adapted their recruitment strategy to ensure their staff and applicants are safe by conducting interviews and onboarding online.

Their on-site measures include (but are not limited to): staggering employee shifts to reduce the size of work groups, modifying their cafeteria space to enhance social distancing, the implementation of additional cleaning and sanitization routines, robust self-assessment and screening tools, a work-from-home policy and a strict visitor screening protocol.

To learn more about opportunities at Apotex Pharmachem, visit here: Apotex Career Website

Connect with the team at Apotex Pharmachem during their hiring event April 28th and see if working for them is a fit for your future!

RECRUITMENT EVENT DETAILS:

When: Thursday, September April 28th, 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm

Where: Make a virtual appointment through: https://forms.office.com/r/Yca1kSw1NN

Why: Hiring a Chemical Operator and a Chemical Maintenance Technician

Website: Apotex Career Website

Contact: employerservices@st-leonards.com or call 519-756-7665 for more information

Deadline: resumes accepted up to 24hrs before the event (cut off April 27, 2022 at 9am)

Presented by St. Leonard’s Community Services

Local unemployment falls to 2-year low

by WPBGE | Apr 8, 2022 | Press Release, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

March 2022 employment picked up, with the unemployment rate falling to a two-year low as more people entered the job market and found work.

Brantford-Brant’s jobless rate was 5.1% last month, down from 5.5% in February, according to seasonally adjusted March 2022 employment numbers released by Statistics Canada. March’s 5.1% is the lowest since January 2020, prior to the pandemic.

About 73,000 more people were working across Canada in March, dropping the national jobless rate to 5.3% – the lowest on record in almost five decades. Ontario saw almost half of the job gains and its rate also dipped to 5.3%.

Brantford saw several key labour force numbers improve in March, including employment rate, size of the labour force and the rate of participation. However, some of these numbers are still lower than they were a year ago.

“We’ve seen a steady improvement over the last few months in many areas, but we still have a ways to go,” said Danette Dalton, the Workforce Planning Board’s executive director.

“This time last year the employment rate was better and more people were active in the labour market. There are still people who haven’t yet re-entered the workforce and there is a lot of demand from employers.”

There was a record 4,000 jobs posted on the planning board’s Grand Erie Jobs community job board in March, about 800 more than the previous high seen last November.

About 2,000 area businesses had postings, with the most advertised jobs being material handler, retail salesperson, transit drivers, customer service representatives, and homecare and education support workers.

There are several short-term job training programs starting soon in the Brantford area, including a free, two-week introduction to welding course offered by the planning board at local colleges. Women, in particular, are being encouraged to apply to Skills2Advance Welding.

“There many available jobs, training programs and community supports out there for anyone looking for work or who want to retrain for new careers,” Dalton said.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read its news release on March 2022 employment in Canada and Ontario.