Voice of Business: Untapped Staffing Resource
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The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Summit last month.
Organizations of all shapes and sizes came together to discuss ways they can grow and prosper in the future. Businesses in the community seem to be all facing one common problem: staffing. Businesses are finding it nearly impossible to attract and retain employees.
There may be an untapped resource that businesses may have overlooked: the New Canadians Centre (NCC).
Andy Cragg, Executive Director of the NCC, was a panellist at the Summit’s discussion on the workforce. Cragg pointed out that many new residents come to Canada willing and able to join the workforce.
On top of providing newcomers assistance to settle and integrate locally, the New Canadian Centre also offers employment support. This includes providing information about the local work environment, information on the accreditation and credential evaluation process, and a connection to other support programs and services.
“We have approximately 15 adult clients and 15 youth clients, but this number is always fluctuating as new people arrive in our community. Even if someone is not necessarily actively looking, if a good opportunity for them arises, our counsellors will still reach out to them; for newcomers especially, it can take some time to make the connections in Canada to secure work that is in line with their previous training and experience,” stated Michelle Nguyen, Peterborough Immigration Partnership (PIP) Officer of the New Canadians Centre.
Information on Labour and Immigration Statistics:
Employers and governments are increasingly relying on immigrants to fill labour shortages as more Canadians are reaching retirement age
Peterborough faces labour shortages in the healthcare industry, skilled trades, and business and finance sectors
Over 1.3 million new immigrants were admitted to Canada from 2016 to 2021, more than the last five-year period
Immigrants aged 25 to 54 account for 36.3 per cent of all core-aged employment in accommodation and food services; 37.8 per cent in transportation and warehousing, 34.1% in professional, scientific and technical services and 20.1 per cent in construction
The Workforce Development Board predicts that, between 2019 and 2026, 22.5 per cent of all new workers are expected to come from immigration Nguyen also stated the NCC helps newcomers navigate the process of training in the industries in Canada.
