New Local Resources Aimed at Attracting More Apprentices
“Launching a new career guide, interviews, videos, Facebook group & workplace tours”
For Immediate Release
February 14, 2019
Windsor, ON – Workforce WindsorEssex, the region’s Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC), as part of their WEexplore Trades project, has launched new resources that will help students, jobseekers, and career changers learn more about the benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship in Windsor-Essex.
With a growing economy, a skills shortage, and a growing number of retirements, Windsor-Essex businesses need more people pursuing a career in the skilled trades. Workforce WindsorEssex and our partners in education, training, employment, business, government and economic development have been working over the past four months to develop place-based resources that will help more people make an informed decision about pursing a career in the skilled trades locally.
The new resources being announced today include:
- A written career guide in English and French covering the 26 in-demand skilled trade occupations in construction, motive power, industrial (manufacturing) and service sectors. This guide shares detailed information about in-demand trades, training pathways, and benefits, while also acting as a conversation starter with family, friends, educators and/or employment counsellors.
- Four new engagement videos covering skilled trade workers in construction, motive power, industrial, and service The videos were filmed in partnership with LIUNA Local 625, Provincial Chrysler (dealership), AV Guage & Fixture, and Bread Meats Bread to demonstrate the training pathways, work environments, job satisfaction, and career opportunities associated with working in the skilled trades.
- The organization of the region’s first ever Test Drive Day on March 5, 2019. On this day local secondary students will visit workplaces that employ apprentices and journeypersons. Modelled after Manufacturing Day, up to 500 local students will tour as many as 12 businesses in construction, motive power, service, and manufacturing sectors.
- New enhancements and content for the popular WEexplore The improvements allow for the filtering of apprenticeable careers. As a result, an occupation like Carpenter will now have an Apprentice Carpenter and Carpenter bubble with different wage/salary information.
- The ongoing weekly release of new Workforce Profiles every Wednesday. These blogs contain interviews with people working in one of the region’s 120+ in-demand skilled trade, while also profiling the region’s 26 in-demand skilled trades.
- In an effort to encourage more women to pursue an apprenticeship in the skilled trades, Workforce WindsorEssex created and moderates a Facebook group called Windsor-Essex Women in Skilled Trades. This group is open to women working (or interested in working) in the skilled trades in an effort to create an informal mentorship environment.
These resources are designed to address barriers to pursuing employment in the skilled trades. They are meant to spark an interest or dialogue with others about the many benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship. We hope that after today’s launch, our community will be better able to read about, watch, experience, research, and better support people wanting to enter the skilled trades professions.
These resources can be found at www.workforcewindsoressex.com/trades
QUOTES:
“Workforce WindsorEssex set out to create new local resources that would better convey the opportunities and attractiveness of working in the skilled trades. We know that parents are the number one influencer of career decisions, so we want these resources to also inform parents.”
- Michelle Suchiu, Executive Director, Workforce WindsorEssex
“We recognize the need locally, regionally, and nationally for skilled people, and through programs like our Construction Academy and partnerships with local industries and St Clair College, we must work together to provide students with the opportunities to explore careers in the trades. So we applaud Workforce Windsor-Essex for their efforts to attract students to these careers, as well as their insights on labour market demands, which help guide our students towards their appropriate pathways.”
- Dan Fister, Executive Superintendent of Innovation and Experiential Learning, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
Quick Links
- In February 2019, Workforce WindsorEssex launched WEmap jobs to help users find job postings, key employment and training services, and commuting options.
- In 2018, Workforce WindsorEssex launched WEexplore to make the process of finding, researching and applying for in-demand jobs and browsing their career paths easier than ever. It can be accessed here: www.workforcewindsoressex.com/weexplore.
- In 2017, Workforce WindsorEssex created the region’s first ever list of the top 75 in-demand jobs. Today, there are over 120 in-demand jobs, including 28 skilled trade occupations.
- To learn more about the Local Employment Planning Council and view our current and past projects visit www.workforcewindsoressex.com/lepc
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Media Contact:
Justin Falconer
Senior Director
Workforce WindsorEssex
226-674-3220 ext 854
jfalconer@workforcewindsoressex.com
