Workforce WindsorEssex Launches 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan

New report provides overview of community and workforce trends, highlights recommendations for improved use of services and collaboration to better serve jobseekers and employers

For Immediate Release
February 8, 2022

Windsor, ON – Today, Workforce WindsorEssex, the region’s workforce planning board, launched the 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan (LLMP), which provides a detailed analysis of labour market statistics and offers practical recommendations on how to grow the region’s workforce.

Further to this release, Workforce WindsorEssex is hosting the Local Labour Market Community Action Planning event via Zoom on Thursday, February 10 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Report authors will provide a detailed walkthrough of the 2021-2022 LLMP and participants will engage in an open discussion on the findings to identify actions to improve the local labour market and related services and supports. To register for this free event, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/local-labour-market-action-planning-event-tickets-240496069217.

Over the last decade, Workforce WindsorEssex has produced six LLMPs that have provided insight on sector trends and industry-related education, as well as local labour market solutions through strategic action plans. The 2021-2022 LLMP highlights similarities across the last six reports, such as whether the same jobs have continued to be in-demand, if there is still a gender disparity in traditionally male-dominated industries, and if sectors are still facing the same employee retention challenges over the last 10 years.

The 2021-2022 LLMP provides strategic recommendations through interactive links to industry-related education and Workforce WindsorEssex labour market tools, industry-related information, videos, and blogs. The report will continue to address the pandemic’s influence on the local labour market and includes COVID-19 recovery efforts relating to industry or financial support.

Some key challenges include the age and education of our workforce, as well as the overall participation rate. Other challenges dig deeper into gender, migration, and income issues that prevent greater participation in the labour market.

Some opportunities and recommendations from the report include:

  • Encouraging businesses to collaborate with local educational institutions to offer hard skill development, soft skill development, on-site training, and online training to retain current employees, promote career growth, and recruit future employees.
  • Supporting education for career pathways by integrating student career success and experiential learning into teaching, course, and program requirements to ensure students in post-secondary education have meaningful engagement with their field of study and possible careers, allowing for real workplace experience during schooling and preparing students for their post-graduation career.
  • Promoting government business supports (such as the Skills Development Fund SDF) so employers are aware and can apply for applicable funding.
  • Increasing childcare supports to narrow the gap of continued disparity between male and female labour force participation.

This data-rich report outlines challenges and opportunities related to local labour market conditions, providing partners in government, community planning, economic development, industry, education, employment and settlement services, community organizations, and others insight into how each challenge can be overcome.

The 2021-2022 LLMP provides an update on the local labour market, including information on demographics, the labour force, Employment Ontario services, and industry in Windsor-Essex, following a detailed review and analysis of available data from Statistics Canada, Employment Ontario, Emsi Analyst, online job postings, as well as employer surveys and consultations conducted by Workforce WindsorEssex. By examining this data, Workforce WindsorEssex was able to paint a picture of the current labour market in Windsor-Essex, detailing trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the labour market in our region.

The 2021-2022 LLMP can be accessed at https://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/LLMP/.

 

QUOTES:

“This local labour market report is a road map for young people looking to train for in-demand and well-paying jobs. Our government is proud to provide funding to Workforce Windsor-Essex to help make projects like this possible.”

  • Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development

“The community now has a decade worth of local labour market information to reflect back on to see where the gaps and action items remain. The analysis in the 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan provides recommendations and solutions to grow and develop the region’s workforce in meaningful ways and we look forward to seeing the plan in action.”

  • Tashlyn Teskey, Manager of Projects & Research, Workforce WindsorEssex

“Decades of workforce development research has proven that continuing education, experiential learning, and work-integrated learning positively contributes to a stabilized and qualified labour force. Now more than ever, industry leaders and education must continue to collaborate to develop flexible programs to support the skill development of new and entry-level workers. Local industry-related education has been highlighted in the 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan to support this collective effort.”

  • Samantha Dalo, Project Lead, 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan

“Invest WindsorEssex would like to congratulate Workforce WindsorEssex on the release of the 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan which provides valuable insight into the labour challenges faced by our community as well as the strategies needed to develop a diverse and resilient workforce. This in-depth analysis presents stakeholders and partners with the opportunities and framework needed to bridge talent gaps and ensure the sustainability of our region’s labour market for the foreseeable future.”

  • Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO, Invest WindsorEssex

 

QUICK LINKS:

 

Media Contact:

Lindsey Rivait
Executive Assistant and Researcher
Workforce WindsorEssex
lrivait@workforcewindsoressex.com

 

About Workforce WindsorEssex

Workforce WindsorEssex is a workforce and community development board whose mission is to lead regional employment and community planning for the development of a strong and sustainable workforce. The organization is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Workforce WindsorEssex is an experienced leader in the development of regional labour market tools, research, guides, and events that create positive change in the local labour market while saving others time and effort. These resources, created in close coordination with employment, education, and industry partners, are designed to help job seekers, employers, students, and educators, as well as the community, make more informed labour market decisions using locally-responsive, data-rich and unbiased resources. To learn more about Workforce WindsorEssex and view our tools and resources, visit workforcewindsoressex.com.

 

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Language Identifier: EN Workforce WindsorEssex Launches 2021-2022 Local Labour Market Plan News Release