Projects

Projects and Partnerships in 2020: 

Employer Needs Assessment

Due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to impact the London Economic Region’s workforce and local economy, theElgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board is inviting local employers to complete a needs assessment survey to determine what community support they would need to bring employees back and to support the hiring of new employees as the economy opens post-COVID-19 pandemic.

The Employer Needs Assessment for Recovery survey is designed to collect information specific to the impact of COVID 19 on a range of workforce activities and issues including hiring plans, recruitment strategies, hard-to-fill positions, top skills and workforce challenges.

View the final report here and browse more on our library.

A report on the Annual Review of the London Economic Region Labour Market

 

To establish a baseline of the labour market pre and post COVID-19, we will be publishing a detailed report expanding on past research of the status of the Labour Market in the London Economic Region.

View the final report here and browse more on our library.

 

Online Events

To engage our stakeholders and to distribute labour market information in engaging and participatory ways as the community navigates the COVID-19 Pandemic, the WPDB will be hosting monthly webinars and outreach events. This will include Growing Your Workforce Live! Which is a new iteration of the publication focused on issues of hiring, training and retention. These 20 minute presentations will enlighten and invite you to dive in below the tip of the iceberg on workforce issues.

Updated information on https://workforcedevelopment.ca/blog/

FRESHER

The Food Retail Environment Study for Health and Economic Resiliency (FRESHER) is a pilot study of the effects of COVID-19 on restaurants, fast food outlets, grocery stores, cafes, bars, pubs, and alcohol retail stores in Ontario, across all types of communities.

The evidence we gather from this study will be useful for policymakers to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the sector, and provide evidence that can be used to create support programs and policies that will aid in the recovery of the industry. We also hope to learn and compile strategies that food business owners have used to keep their businesses open, and share this information as a helpful resource for the entire industry. Updates available at https://fresher.theheal.ca/

 

Scenario Planning Project

Along with Workforce Planning West, through a scenario-based planning approach, this project will identify how the supply and demand of the labour in Southwestern Ontario may shift in the next 12-24 months as a result of COVID-19 and identify specific actions or initiatives that employment and training services, government, business, and community leaders can start implementing in the near future in order to bridge skills gaps that emerge in each of these scenarios. Update Center TBD

 

Ongoing Projects

What is EmployerOne?

The annual EmployerOne survey allows employers to communicate their combined workforce needs directly to stakeholders who provide solutions. The survey is designed to collect this information while respecting the individual employer’s need for confidentiality and the limited time they have available to participate in the survey.

Benefits of Employer One

Results of the survey are aggregated and shared back with the employers, but also with the local education system working with students, the employment services working directly with job seekers, municipal, provincial and federal levels of government and with local media. This widespread sharing of employers’ workforce views and concerns encourages the various stakeholders to respond appropriately to the needs of employers in our area.

EmployerOne 2019

View / Download the 2019 Employer One Survey Results

London and Area Works and Apprenticeship Advantage

London and Area Works is a partnership of CTV London, the City of London, London Economic Development Corporation, the Local Employment Planning Council, Employment Sector Council, the County of Elgin and Future Oxford. This regional collaboration highlights local opportunities in the labour market, provides useful tips to job seekers and connects them to a range of labour market information and local services in order to help job seekers and employers in search of talent, connect.

Speaking of talent, there is also information for those considering the skilled trades as their career. Information for potential apprentices and for employers planning to hire an apprentice is also available through the Apprenticeship Advantage series.

You’ll find both of these great resources, and more at: https://london.ctvnews.ca/works

Oxford Invitational Youth Robotics Challenge

Oxford Invitational Youth Robotics Challenge is a community-based partnership founded in 2005 to give youth hands-on experience in design, construction and team problem solving by building and programming a robot for an industrial-type task. Through this exciting project youth are encouraged to explore the many rewarding careers available today with manufacturing companies in Oxford County and the surrounding area.

Worktrends

Local labour market information for London, St. Thomas, Woodstock and surrounding counties.

What you will find on Worktrends.ca

  • Career Information and job postings from local employers.
  • Local labour market data from government resources & other sources.
  • Education and training information from local institutions and colleges.