Leaders in Workforce Development

Many entrepreneurs, whether they are new business owners or have been in operation for a while, don’t know about all of the opportunities and programs on offer to municipalities and businesses. If you’re one of them, keep reading! If you’ve ever had to ask: what is a workforce development specialist? Or, if you’ve never even heard of one before, this article will answer those questions and let you know what a workforce development specialist can do for you in Ontario East.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It isn’t a buzzword or a fad. It’s a framework of programs, strategies and policies that aims to create a fair and respectful environment that accommodates every employee's needs. If you’re reading this, chances are you want to know how to implement DEI in your workplace or optimize your current DEI work. Read on, to find answers to these questions and get practical best practice tips for your workplace. 

The province of Ontario is preparing to welcome more immigrants than ever over the next few years. If you’re a newcomer to Canada or are planning to immigrate to Ontario, keep reading to learn the answers to frequently asked questions about Ontario immigration, especially to eastern Ontario. Ontario East is a top choice for new Canadians because of its high quality of life, safe rural and small to medium sized communities, low cost of living, short commute times, diverse workplaces, and many opportunities for skills development. 

Maybe your job was affected by COVID-19; or you’re a parent or caregiver who voluntarily left the workforce to care for your family. Maybe you’ve gone back to school; or you were ill but you’re feeling better now. In the end, your reasons for leaving the workforce aren’t as important as the fact that now, you’re ready to come back. 

Welcome to Canada! Canada is globally known for our high quality of life, civil liberties, education, economic freedom, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and public services. Canada is home to many cultures and accepts people from all walks of life with open arms. However, no matter what your reason for coming here or how wonderful Canada feels, once you’re here navigating the systems created for newcomers to Canada can be confusing, time consuming, and overwhelming. 

When you’re looking for your next job some of the most important factors you look for might be: compensation, benefits, company history and reputation, working hours, job responsibilities, and opportunities for advancement. But there’s one factor you might not consider that’s just as important to your job search success and your professional and personal happiness: quality of life. 

If you’re in the middle of a job search or even considering entering the job market soon, stop now and read this. We know how stressful job searches can be. The effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the job market combined with factors like inflation, the return to in-person work, skills training needs, personal accommodation needs all contribute to this stress. To help you in your search, whether you’re new to Canada, to eastern Ontario, or a sector, we’ve collected 8 resources for job seekers. 

Let’s start with the basics - if you’re reading this and you know what labour market info (LMI) is and why it’s important, skip down to the next section. But if you don’t, start here. A lot of employers don’t realize the importance LMI can have in your hiring processes; if you’re one of those employers, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here’s how LMI support provides you with hiring help: 

Eastern Ontario is home to many educational institutions, giving employers access to a highly skilled workforce, including international students. Eastern Ontario businesses benefit greatly from recruiting this workforce, since international students are highly motivated; have international work experience; can communicate in multiple languages. Employers who hire international students also demonstrate their commitment to cultural diversity. Get hiring help and learn how to hire international students with these 3 tips:

Eastern Ontario is a rich region, a region rich in quality of life and opportunities for job seekers. It’s easy to attract residents to eastern Ontario when it’s been voted one of the best places to live, multiple times. But how do you attract those residents to come work with you, too? There’s so much hiring help out there that it can become overwhelming for employers to find what works best. To make hiring easier for you, here are 5 tips on how to attract talent you can consider or implement quickly.