Linking Niagara, the first project of its kind in Ontario, is being launched in Niagara. Overseen by a steering committee consisting of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, Niagara Workforce Planning Board, YMCA Employment & Immigrant Services, Rel8ed.to, Business Jumpstart, the Niagara Community Observatory and Niagara Connects, Linking Niagara will close the skills gap in Niagara.
Linking Niagara is funded by the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation, with the support of Ryerson University and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
Employers in Ontario identify access to a talented workforce as their number-one challenge, yet despite this fact, there are still thousands of job-seekers in Niagara who are not finding roles. Linking Niagara aims to bring the two together, building the connections and tools that will help businesses recruit talent, job-seekers to find available jobs, and employment service providers to connect their clients with local employers.
The program will raise awareness of the various support programs, initiatives, and funds available to local employers. A key challenge for employers is not a lack of programs to assist with hiring, but a lack of awareness of them. Linking Niagara will build that awareness.
The project’s coordinators will work throughout Niagara running workshops, info sessions, and information technology tools to make connections and help employers access key hiring resources. The project will particularly focus on smaller enterprises who do not have dedicated human resources staff, and face challenges recruiting and expanding their business.
The long-term results of this project will be decreased unemployment, faster economic growth, and more job opportunities, particularly among the long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities, and equity-seeking groups. The program will aim at creating a self-sustaining network and body of knowledge between employers, job-seekers, and employment service providers in Niagara.
Quotes:
“Employers have repeatedly said that their biggest problem right now is finding talent. It was one of the key takeaways of the 2016 Niagara Economic Summit. We’re pleased to be leading this program in response, and to take decisive action that will close the skills gap and help businesses here in Niagara.”
— Mishka Balsom, President and CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
“As Niagara’s leading workforce research organization, we are very aware of Niagara’s workforce challenges: people without jobs, jobs without people. Linking Niagara is the means by which we can solve that problem for ourselves.”
— Mario De Divitiis, CEO, Niagara Workforce Planning Board
“Linking Niagara will help the YMCA and other employment service providers with more tools and bigger networks so that we can reach even more of the people we need to. This project is a new and valuable resource for everyone in Niagara who is trying to connect job-seekers with employers, to help people find work, and to help employers recruit talent. “
— Deanna D’Elia, Director of Employment and Newcomer Services, YMCA of Niagara
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For more information, please contact:
Mishka Balsom, President & CEO of GNCC
Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361
