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Brantford jobless rate edges up, but stays low

by WPBGE | Oct 8, 2021 | Press Release

September 2021 employment numbers for Brantford saw the jobless rate edge up, but it is still one of the lowest in Ontario.

September’s local unemployment rate was 6.1%, up from 5.7% in August but matching July’s figure, according to seasonally adjusted estimates released by Statistics Canada on Friday.

Norfolk County’s jobless rate for the last three months averaged 7.7%, though figures for September suggest unemployment has climbed due to a drop in part-time work, possibly related to summer jobs.

Across Canada, employment grew by 157,000 jobs in September, dropping the national monthly jobless rate to 6.9%. Ontario accounted for almost half of the job gains and the provincial jobless rate fell for the fourth straight month to 7.3%. All figures are based on a Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics Canada the week of Sept. 12 – 18.

In Southern Ontario, only Guelph at 6% has a lower jobless rate than Brantford. Hamilton is close at 6.3%, while Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo is next at 7.2%, London 7.3% and St. Catharines-Niagara 8.2%.

“It is good to see Brantford has one of the lowest unemployment rates, but there’s still more work to do to recover from the pandemic and grow the local economy,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

“There are still people struggling to find the right fit in a job and there are still businesses that are struggling to find staff.”

Dalton said many businesses are experiencing a competitive job market, with high demand for service industry occupations in particular. There were more than 2,800 new jobs posted in September on Grand Erie Jobs, the job board operated by the Workforce Planning Board.

Almost 40 area businesses looking to hire are participating in a 3-day virtual job fair, Oct. 19 – 21, organized by St. Leonard’s Community Services. People can contact St. Leonard’s for more information.

In Brantford, the September employment numbers tell a different story depending on age group and sex of workers.

Youth aged 15 to 24 have seen the largest job gains over the last few months, with females benefiting more. By contrast, employment has fallen in the core working age group of 25 to 54, with the majority of the losses affecting men. Employment has grown for men aged 55 and over, but has stayed the same for women.

Visit Statistics Canada’s website to read its news release on September 2021 employment in Canada and Ontario.

Gary Beemer: Rewarding career helping people

by WPBGE | Aug 19, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Gary Beemer built a rewarding career helping people.

The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie interviewed him on his retirement:

I began working for Haldimand Norfolk Health and Social Services in 2011, originally as an Employment Case Manager. After a brief contract at Community Addictions and Mental Health I returned to HNHSS in 2013, once again as a case manager. In 2014, I became the Program Manager for Employment and Community Supports, which is a position I retained until my retirement in July 2021. Prior to being hired by Norfolk County, I was employed by St. Leonard’s Community Services as a Job Developer and Employment Consultant for 4 years. Prior to that I had been employed in automotive dealerships, a health care union, a golf course and a museum. My original full-time work was as a gardener at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Tell us about the work your organization does – what have been some of the developments, accomplishments and milestones you’ve seen with your team over the years

At Social Services, the Ontario Works staff provide financial resources and supports to vulnerable people, in order help them stabilize their lives to prepare them to re-enter the workforce. When I started at HNHSS, I was part of the employment team. We supported people in finding work, developing skills and training to make themselves employable, and we assisted them with retention once they found work. The retention piece, which was supported by two Career Coaches, was a model that kept our office at the top of employment outcomes in the province for many years. Other offices have copied this idea and added retention personnel to their operations. Another innovation is the Community Support Worker program which we developed in our office to meet local needs. This program has been very successful in providing supports and advocacy for our most vulnerable clients. These are people who have experienced trauma, addictions and mental health issues. The Community Support Worker team works with these clients to stabilize their issues in order to begin consideration of taking on education, training or employment. The Community Support Worker program remains, as does a Lifeskills Coach, who conducts daily workshops (currently online) to support our clients transition to employment services provided by our local community partners.

What made you pursue your career? What led you to take a job in this community?

I went to university as a mature student and graduated during a recession in the early 1990’s. While at university, I became very interested in employment issues. While working for a provincial union, I became more and more interested in employment issues. After leaving that position, I began working in the automotive service industry, but it really wasn’t what I was passionate about. I became more and more attuned to employment issues, particularly around automation and precarious employment. I enrolled in the Career Development Practitioner program at Conestoga College and found I really enjoyed employment services, so I applied and was successful at getting a job with St. Leonard’s. I was very intrigued by the employment market in rural communities and since I lived in Caledonia, the position was perfect for me.

What have been the greatest rewards and challenges in your work? What are you most proud of?

The thing I am most proud of is the tremendous people I worked with. My team did and does fantastic work across the board and changed many lives. The fact that I was able to support them in the valuable, life-changing work they did and still do, makes me very proud. There are also many outstanding employees in the Social Services department and it was my pleasure to support them in the tremendous work they do in supporting our most vulnerable citizens.

What are the most important factors in your field as far as supporting clients? What do you see the future of community and employment supports being?

The most important factors in regard to supporting clients, is to listen, be empathetic and address their immediate needs. People who are worried about where they are sleeping tonight aren’t in a position to be job searching – they are just trying to survive. In the current economic situation, many people are in positions they never would have dreamed they would have found themselves in. The future for community supports is to continue to provide life stabilization to those in need. This is primarily in finding safe and secure housing, and to assist people in finding employment that pays enough to take care of their basic needs. What the COVID pandemic has proven is the need for, at the very least, a living wage. Employment supports are getting trickier as I think that COVID has also opened up a lot of opportunities for online work which requires education and skills that a lot of people don’t have. Education and training is going to be more and more important, and I fear that when people leave the community to obtain required skills they may not return, which has been the case for quite some time.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing your career? And/or do you have any advice for those currently training for a future career like yours?

I would tell anyone interested in entering this field to come to in with an open mind. Most people on benefits are not on them because they want to be, but because of some life altering event or trauma. Some people recover quicker than others and it is important to work with them from a place of empathy and kindness, whenever possible. This work is very challenging but can also be very rewarding. One must always remember that the clients are in survival mode and many are overwhelmed, so the progress you make with them sometimes is very minimal, but it is important to support them in their journey, at their pace, not yours. There are many success stories out there and when you have supported someone to become successful, there is no greater feeling.

What continuing role would you like to play in the community going forward?

I’m not sure right now, there are many changes coming on the Social Services front and I would love the opportunity to provide assistance with some elements of that. I think that my life and employment experiences have given me a lot of insights and ideas that could be used in the community, but I have no plans right now.

Local Training and Certification for careers like Gary’s:

Post Secondary education in Social Service Worker, Career Development Practitioner, Social Work, Psychology, Labour Studies.

Job search site had busy 1st year

by WPBGE | Aug 10, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Job search site Grand Erie Jobs had a busy first year, with 26,000 jobs listed from 5,000 businesses.

The region’s job market saw many ups and downs due to the pandemic during Grand Erie Jobs’ first year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, but local businesses were on the lookout for employees throughout the year.

July 2020 saw about 1,700 postings on the job search site, with increased numbers in the following months until postings dipped to 1,200 in December. Things rebounded steadily in 2021, with June setting a new monthly high for job postings with 2,900. July has maintained that high.

The ups and down show COVID-19’s impact: businesses opening, closing, reopening, re-closing for short stints.

About 5,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes and types in Brantford, Six Nations, New Credit, and the counties of Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant, advertised job openings during Grand Erie Jobs’ first year.

Grand Erie Jobs has become the largest, most comprehensive job search site in the area, and that benefits job seekers and employers.

Top Skills Requested

Many of the top skills employers were looking for involved the ability to work with people and deal with problems: customer service, attention to detail, organization, interpersonal skills, problem solving and time management. Many employers were also looking for management and sales related experience.

Job applicants could improve their hiring chances by demonstrating that they have these skills and experience.

Top jobs advertised by job title on Grand Erie Jobs: Material Handler, General Labourer, General Farm Labourer, Customer Service Representative, Personal Support Worker, Forklift Operator and Sales Associate.

But there were hundreds of different occupations listed, everything from Sales Manager to Pharmacist, University Lecturer, Carpenter, Dental Assistant, Transport Truck Driver and Tax Arrears Collector.

Employers in every sector of the economy, from Construction to Health Care to Manufacturing, were looking to hire at some point.

Top Companies Hiring

The Brant County Healthcare System, which operates Brantford General Hospital and The Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris, was the No. 1 advertiser of jobs that appeared on Grand Erie Jobs. The hospital system employs more than 2,000 people.

Other top public-sector employers included: Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Norfolk County, Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Band Council, Norfolk General Hospital and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Top private-sectors employers included Lowe’s, VON Canada, Aspire Bakeries (formerly known as ARYZTA), VG Meats and DHL Supply Chain.

Job openings in certain fields were particularly hard to fill. This was true for jobs in agriculture, in industrial and construction trades, and for home support workers.

The large majority of jobs advertised over the last year on Grand Erie Jobs, 86% or better, were full-time, permanent positions. This dispels a commonly heard complaint that employers only want to hire people part-time or on short-term contracts.

Labour Shortage

There are reports from across Canada that there’s a labour shortage as businesses struggle to find people to fill positions.

There are some signs of that in the Grand Erie region. There are also signs that fewer people are using free employment services offered by Employment Ontario agencies.

Some workers are sitting on the sidelines and taking a wait-and-see approach to the job market, due to uncertainty over the pandemic.

In some cases, people are taking a pause while they consider their next moves: Do they want to go back to the same job? Do they want to switch careers? Do they want to go into training or back to school?

Employment Ontario agencies can help people answer these questions.

It is expected that more people will get back into the job market in the Fall, after school resumes. Some residents may be hesitant to commit to a job until they know with more certainty that in-class learning will be available for their children.

When people are ready to get back into the job market, the Grand Erie Jobs will be an essential tool they can use.

Occupations at our National Parks

by WPBGE | Jul 16, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Parks Canada: A place to work with your hands and heart

“On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations” ~ Parks Canada

Canada’s National Parks Day takes place the third Saturday of each July and it is an occasion to celebrate our country’s maginficient natural and historic sites and the people who take care of them.

People who work at Canada’s national parks protect and preserve our national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas for future generations.

They are the friendly faces that welcome us at the visitor centers, they are the storytellers that open our eyes to different perspectives on Canada’s history and they are also the people who work behind-the-scenes to help make our park experiences enjoyable and meaningful.

Parks Canada is the name of the federal department that does all this. There are many different positions across our national parks and every person plays a critical role in helping to protect, preserve, and share these special places and stories with all of us.

Occupations at Parks Canada are diverse and range from Education Specialist and Park Warden to Wildland Firefighter and Physical Science Technician. They also include an established student employment program that includes summer jobs, part-time positions and co-op work experiences.

A more commonly know position, that of Park Ranger, or Park Warden, plays a key role in preserving Canada’s natural resources – a park warden studies, monitors and manages ecosystems and is essential in decision making by providing scientific information. A Park Warden’s other role is ensuring the safety of visitors by developing public safety programs and providing law enforcement services in Canada’s national parks. They wear a distinct uniform and carry personal protective equipment. They also build partnerships with neighbouring communities.

When hiring, Parks Canada requires a post-secondary education with a diploma or degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences with related coursework in a discipline such as botany or forestry or a field related to conservation or natural resource enforcement. First aid and CPR level C certification are required and park wardens must meet medical and physical fitness standards.

Additional requirements also typically include a year of relevant experience in an area such as fish, wildlife, or recreation management, scientific work, or law enforcement.

Why work for Parks Canada? – Jobs at Parks Canada (pc.gc.ca)

Parks Canada has 46 national parks across the country such as Point Pelee National Park on the nearby shores of Lake Erie or Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory and 171 national historic sites including Brantford’s very own Bell Homestead National Historic Site, the home where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone on July 26, 1874 and Ruthven Park National Historic Site in Cayuga, as well as national historic canals and 4 national marine conservation areas.

A team of more than five thousand people work in a wide range of jobs at these sites. Anyone who wishes to apply for these opportunities can find them posted on www.jobs.gc.ca

People who work as Ecosystem Scientists, Archeologists and Resource Management Technicians, to name a few, protect the integrity of our special places, and visitors and residents in and around them. Their work safeguards both Canada’s special places and those who visit here.

Those who work as Public Education and Outreach Officers, Visitor Services Attendants and Interpreters open doors to places of discovery and learning, reflection and recreation. They also develop and deliver programs that recount the history of our land and our people – the stories of Canada that touch millions of visitors from around the world.

People in occupations such as Water & Wasterwater Operators, Social Scientists and Maintenance Workers provide support, advice, guidance and services in many fields.

The Ontario government manages provincial parks such as Long Point Provincial Park in Norfolk County and Selkirk Provincial Park in Haldimand County, which offer some similar jobs and careers as Parks Canada, while at the more local level there are conservation authorities.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) manages water and other natural resources on behalf of 39 municipalities and close to one million residents of the Grand River watershed.

Brant Park Conservation Area which is nestled in a bend of the Grand River amid the historic communities of Brantford and Brant County is just a few minutes away from the First Nations territories of the Six Nations and Mississaugas of the New Credit and falls under the GRCA.

Explore jobs at the Grand River Conservation Authority:

Job opportunities – Grand River Conservation Authority

Grand Erie Jobs 2.0 launched by WPBGE

by WPBGE | Jun 25, 2021 | Press Release

The Workforce Planning Board has launched Grand Erie Jobs 2.0 to better help residents find work, research careers and learn about local businesses.

Grand Erie Jobs 2.0 builds on online tools introduced a year ago that connect people with jobs and community services in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River.

The most widely used tool for the past year has been a job board that shows local job openings, typically more than 1,000 each month.

“Grand Erie Jobs has quickly become our region’s largest, most comprehensive job board and thousands of residents have used it over the last year to search for work and explore career paths,” said Executive Director Danette Dalton.

“These exciting new tools will give individuals even more information about local wages, in-demand occupations, skill requirements and which employers hire most frequently. Our goal is to offer residents a full toolbox of tools they can use to be successful.”

The number of online tools has doubled to eight, including some new ones that could be useful to local businesses, economic development leaders and employment services.

The new tools are:

Occupation Finder: Provides information on all 500 occupations, identifying local wages, employers and demand from businesses.
Industry Search: Provides information on different industries and identifies local companies from each industry.
Sector Locator: Uses a map to show local companies that hire for specific jobs, and highlights where those businesses and jobs are concentrated.
Talent Finder: A tool that employers, recruitment firms and communities can use to target talent attraction campaigns for hard-to-fill jobs.

Dalton said that the Workforce Planning Board has ambitious plans to create additional online tools that help people navigate the local job market, discover how to improve their skills, and tap into available training, education and employment.

“We are building a must-use community resource. We can use these tools to build a stronger, more resilient workforce and a robust local economy.”