2019-2020 Labour Market Plan

Our annual Labour Market Plan paints a picture of Grand Erie’s job market and economy.

During 2019, the unemployment rate fell consistently in the region, with the Brantford-Brant census area recording record low numbers.

Many businesses reported job openings and competition for talent in a variety of occupations, especially in the skilled trades.

There is a lot of concern about experienced skilled trades people retiring, and that not enough young people are entering the trades to replace them. A focus on succession planning is needed in this tight labour market.

Addressing the labour shortage also requires looking strategically at foundational needs in the Grand Erie region.

Learn more about these strategies by reading the 2019-2020 Local Labour Market Plan: Navigating the Workforce in Grand Erie.

2018-2019 Labour Market Plan

Employers across the Grand Erie region faced challenges finding the workers they needed to grow.

Those challenges are explored in the 2018-19 Labour Market Plan titled Help Wanted: Building the Talent Pool.

With the unemployment rate at the lowest level in almost 10 years in the Brantford area, companies are finding it difficult to hire new employees, both to replace retirements and to grow their business.

Simply put: the demand for workers is outpacing the supply of available labour. Population decline in the Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk areas, particularly in the 15 – 44 age range, is contributing to a shrinking labour force, leaving many businesses without the workers they need.

Learn more by reading Help Wanted: Building the Talent Pool.