Closing the skills gap
Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force delivers report to help close the skills gap
Closing the skills gap between people looking for jobs and jobs that need to be filled is the purpose of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development, which has delivered its report to Council.
The Task Force, headed by Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie, made a series of recommendations under five broad areas:
1. Build Hamilton’s local workforce capacity
2. Develop initiatives to create and sustain local jobs
3. Achieve greater alignment between employer needs and skills development
4. Create a local system to connect job-seekers with local employers
5. Address negative perceptions about the City of Hamilton
Some of the specific recommendations include:
• Encourage employers to create co-op programs for students;
• Hold a bi-annual forum to assess the skills and occupation needs of employers;
• Create an online platform to support employers with recruitment;
• Regularly share basis business expansion and retention survey information;
• Forecast and communicate labour force needs to employers.
QUOTES:
“Hamilton will succeed when its people are at their best and reaching their full potential. In order for Hamilton to continue to have a growing and innovative economy, we need to ensure that our people are getting the skills they need today to fill the jobs of tomorrow.”
“To be successful, communities of the future will need to have a strong alignment between economic expectations and workforce skills, welcoming everyone to play a role in building a healthy, resilient and prosperous region.”
The Task Force was struck in June 2015 in response to Hamilton’s serious shortage of skilled trades and an aging workforce.
The Task Force has 12 members drawn from City of Hamilton council and staff members, local post-secondary institutions, industry, labour, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and workforce specialists.
This is the Task Force’s final report but it will continue to meet to ensure follow up is done on its recommendations.
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Media Contacts:
Amanda Kinnaird
Communications and Media Advisor
Office of Mayor Fred Eisenberger
City of Hamilton
T: 905-546-4225
C: 905-973-3263
E: amanda.kinnaird@hamilton.ca
Jay Robb
Director of Communications
Mohawk College
905.979.8893 (cell)
905.575.1212 ext. 3965
jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca
Mohawk College educates and serves more than 32,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at four main campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk, as well as at the Mohawk College Mississauga Campus in partnership with triOS College. Mohawk is committed to upholding an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning, working and engaging environment for students, employees and the community. The college is among the top colleges for applied research in Canada. It has been named one of Hamilton-Niagara’s top employers and one of Canada’s greenest employers, and holds a GOLD STARS rating from AASHE for sustainability achievements. More than 165,000 people have graduated from Mohawk since it was founded.