About the Local Employment Planning Council


The Local Employment Planning Council was the project-producing branch of the Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board. We partnered with Literacy Link South Central to execute our vision, mission and mandate for 4 years.

As of March 2020, the pilot period for LEPCs has ended. Read related memos from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities here.


Our History

In December 2015, The Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board was selected by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities to pilot the Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC) project for the London Economic Region, which includes Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin County.

The objective of the Local Employment Planning Council pilot was “aimed at improving the conditions in the local communities through improved collection and dissemination of local labour market information and community engagement to drive local approaches in the planning and delivery of employment and training services.” 

The activities of the LEPC were governed by a Central Planning Table that was comprised of stakeholders in the London Economic Region from a variety of sectors. In addition, there were several working groups: Employer Engagement, Service Planning, and Intergovernmental /Inter-ministerial partnerships. We engaged all of our existing partners within this structure while exploring and forming new partnerships. 

The LEPC project involved creating a network of employers, service providers, educators and government officials to address the needs of our local workforce or “a local labour market that works.” 


The strategic plan for the Local Employment Planning Council set our direction for the future. It identified the Council’s Vision, Mission and Priority Areas and the specific strategies that define how we responded to the workforce needs of both employers and job seekers throughout the London Economic Region. 

Click to View our Strategic Plans


Our Vision

A local labour market that works.

Our Mission

To improve the local labour market through enhanced collection and distribution of labour market information and community engagement to drive innovation in service delivery based on solid evidence.

Our Mandate

THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT PLANNING COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THE IMPROVEMENT OF LABOUR MARKET CONDITIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY:

  • Labour Market Information and Intelligence: Expanding current understanding of local labour market issues and needs and improving access to labour market information resources.
  • Integrated Planning: Serving as a central point of contact and key facilitator for linking employers, service providers, other ministries and levels of government and other community groups to identify and respond to labour market and workforce development challenges and opportunities, and gaps in employment and training and human and social services, through collaborative planning.
  • Service Coordination for Employers: Acting as a hub for connecting employers, industry associations, sector groups and other employer groups with appropriate employment and training services to address their workforce development needs. Working with local employment and training service providers, including those outside the Employment Ontario network such as Ontario Works Employment Assistance (OW-EA) and Ontario Disability Supports Program – Employment Supports (ODSP-ES), to coordinate services to employers, such as job development and job placements.
  • Research and Innovation: Collaborating with community stakeholders to develop projects related to the research and piloting of innovative approaches to addressing local labour market issues or opportunities.
  • Sharing Best Practices and Promising Approaches: working with provincial and community organizations, including other LEPCs, to identify and share local best practices that could inform action in other areas.

LEPC FAQ’s

What is the Local Employment Planning Council?

The Local Employment Planning Council will provide communities with the expertise and local labour market information to improve coordinated planning of employment and training services and meet community needs.

What did LEPC’s Do?

LEPCs improved employment and training service planning and labour market conditions in local communities by:

  • Collecting and distributing local labour market information and working with employers and community organizations to identify and address local labour market strengths and opportunities;
  • Engaging the community to drive local approaches in the planning and delivery of employment and training services;
  • Connecting with employers, service providers and other community stakeholders to build program and service planning partnerships; and,
  • Developing local solutions to labour market issues.

What gap in the current system were LEPC’s designed to address?

The LEPC pilot design was intended to strengthen local capacity to address local workforce development challenges and opportunities. Challenges were identified within the current system, including:

  • Uneven capacity across the network to:
    • Conduct engagement with employers to identify labour market or workforce development needs;
    • Engage with delivery providers in coordinating local planning of employment and training services;
    • Consistently collect and disseminate accurate and detailed local labour market information.
  • Lack of common understanding of roles and responsibilities for local service planning.

The LEPC pilot is intended to address these challenges and strengthen local capacity to address local workforce development needs.