Staff
The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board (NTAB) is asking employers to help it better understand the issues and challenges facing their respective businesses.
And they can do that is taking the 2017 Employer One survey, which can be found online at ntab.on.ca
The survey is designed to collect information from employers on a range of workforce issues, including projected vacancies, hiring employees, recruitment strategies and challenges, as well as employers’ perspectives on candidate skills, education, and training, said NTAB executive director Sonja Wainio.
“This is the local intelligence that NTAB requires for our reports,” she explained.
“When employers take the time to respond, they are telling us directly what is most impacting the ongoing and future success of their business,” Wainio added.
Some of the sample questions NTAB is seeking answers for include:
•What are the top competencies required to work there;
•Are the jobs full-time, part-time, contract, or seasonal;
•Do you have a succession plan in place, or are you expanding or downsizing;
•Are there training needs that you, as an employer, have a hard time accessing locally; and
•If you are hiring, what is the most successful method you have found (i.e., word of mouth, referrals, websites, or job boards).
“This shows us the ‘demand’ side of the industry,” said Wainio.
“Once we have that data/information, we make a final report and that helps job-seekers know what is required for successful employment and what kind of jobs are out there,” she noted.
NTAB also sends this information to employment service providers in both the Rainy River and Kenora districts, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, as well as local school boards and other training providers.
“We also share this information with students directly so that they can choose a career path that has actual employment at the end,” said Wainio.
“Skilled tradespeople are in high demand and it will only increase as more of the ‘baby boomers’ continue to retire.”
The survey closes Dec. 15.
In related news, NTAB is holding a “community consultation” on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre.
Registration at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 5:30. The event will end at 8:15 p.m.
The event is free but because dinner will be served, NTAB needs people to pre-register prior to 6 p.m. next Wednesday (Nov. 22).
They can pre-register online at eventbrite.ca by searching for “Rainy River District Community Consultation.”
This event is a forum where community partners will develop a Local Labour Market Plan for the year ahead.
The goal of this plan of action is to meet the changing labour market needs of the Kenora and Rainy River districts.
The results of these consultations will reflect common goals, objectives, and priorities for strengthening the local labour markets in the two districts.
NTAB is a community-directed, non-profit corporation leading the Kenora and Rainy River districts in their approach to workforce development and labour market planning.
Its goal is to engage communities and community partners in a local labour market research and planning process that leads to co-operative efforts to find local solutions to local issues.
