WorkingNB Wants Your Ideas Around Growing The Province’s Labour Force
WorkingNB is looking for your ideas on how to grow the labour force in New Brunswick. The provincial organization, under the Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour, which is dedicated to helping people get employment, job skills, and education, want you to think big when making submissions.
“We want to hear from the public and non-profit organizations on ideas they have that are creative and perhaps even a bit outside our historical box of services,” said Claudia Hitchcock, a provincial consultant with WorkingNB.
“Think bigger than what we’ve been thinking. Grow the idea to where it’s a dream.”
Growing the labour force is top of mind for jurisdictions across the country. A lot has changed with job openings since prior to the pandemic.
“Just three years ago, it was very challenging to help people in trades to find work and now businesses are struggling hard just to find enough people to get the jobs done that they’re quoting on,” said Hitchcock.
“We went from trying to find people jobs to a point of not having enough people for the jobs.”
Some ideas already floating around include how to better welcome newcomers to New Brunswick, attracting more tradespeople, and youth, and working with underrepresented groups in society.
“It could be encouraging New Brunswickers to move back home, or people migrating interprovincially,” said Hitchcock.
But these are not just abstract ideas WorkingNB is looking for. If an idea is viewed favourably, it could lead to funding and new partnership initiatives.
“What they’re doing is proposing ideas that could potentially be the start of a negotiated funding agreement with the province. There would be very specific outcomes established for the idea that they have suggested.”
For example, last year a pilot project was initiated in the North-West region which saw retirees reengage in the workforce.
“The intent of the Retiree Employment Agency is to provide the opportunity for retirees to return to work either part-time or temporary full time,” says Marco Ruest, the coordinator of the Retiree Employment Agency pilot.
“As for the retiree, the main reason for returning to work is for socializing and self-esteem. As for the employers, they gain from an experienced retiree and fill positions according to their needs.”
The results of the first year led the North-West region to establish a strong foundation with 60 pairings and over 90 employers engaged. Stay tuned for future initiatives that will strengthen the New Brunswick labour force.
For more information about submitting a proposal, visit the WorkingNB website: https://workingnb.ca/growthideas