How to Modernize Employment and Skills in Manufacturing

Canada’s economy is doing very well. There has been plenty of job creation in past years and the GTA is in particularly fine form. Ontario’s unemployment rate has been hovering just below 6%, and skilled immigrants are coming from all parts of the globe to take part in Ontario’s workforce.

Canada and Ontario, economically, are healthy.

But there are always ways to improve. With uncertain times ahead in the world of jobs, a healthy economy still needs to be versatile to deal with modern manufacturing trends like automation, the gig economy, and the changing nature of work. Despite low unemployment and good job creation, Ontario has a significant issue with matching the underemployed with jobs.

In short, there are people without jobs, and jobs without employees. Employers in manufacturing will be particularly familiar with this problem. There are plenty of good jobs in manufacturing available, and the stats show there are plenty of unemployed or underemployed people who could fill those positions, and yet the positions remain empty.

Here are some ways we believe the problem of matching skilled employees with the right jobs could be improved in Ontario.

Promote Employment and Skills Development

There are two major benefits to employers providing more paid training for employees, and both of those benefits will only increase as time goes on.

Learning while earning increases employee loyalty, as they see that their employer values their career development. As Richard Branson said, “Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don't want to.” It may seem counterintuitive at first, but training someone well enough so they can leave your company shows you value their employment and skills - and them as a human being and not just as a number.

The second benefit is that as technology changes rapidly, the ability to learn new skills, which has always been valuable, will become necessary. Training employees will help them carry your company into the future, and allow them to help drive innovation in the province as a whole.

Embrace Services That Bring Employees and Businesses Together

As the modern face of work creates challenges for workers and businesses looking to connect, there are also innovators looking to create new ways to make those connections. As a manufacturing employer, you can help these services and they’ll help you in return: by bringing you the workers you need.

Employee matching services can work with local colleges and universities to bring you upcoming talent, or can match you with underemployed workers across the province. For example, use diversity training to help create a more welcoming environment for immigrant employees, and develop programs to help differently abled people find work at your facility.