TIMMINS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PROACTIVELY ASSIST EMPLOYERS WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS

TIMMINS, ON: The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), in partnership with the Timmins Local Immigration Partnership (TLIP), has initiated an Employer Ambassador Program which is leading the way to the development of an Employers Council to address current and future labour shortages. The Employer Council will bring local employers together to collectively develop employer-driven strategies designed to reduce barriers, create understanding, and build capacity to address workforce trends.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada projects that by 2025 Canada will face a skilled labour force deficit of 1.2 million people. Northern Ontario, particularly, Timmins is facing increasing economic and demographic challenges. Locally, organizations are already experiencing the effects of an aging workforce, declining birth rates, and youth out-migration.  Employers are beginning to realize the critical role that immigration will play as they move forward in developing modernized human resource strategies to attract talent to fill vacant or new positions within their organizations.

The Conference Board of Canada estimates that Canada will have to attract 375,000 new immigrants annually in order to stabilize the nation's workforce to ensure economic growth. The TEDC is working to engage employers and key stakeholders to assist in the development of comprehensive, relevant solutions to the imminent labour shortage and promote the integration of skilled newcomers into the local labour market.

The Employer Council is intended to create an environment of collaboration and support the delivery of effective and innovative labour market integration programs. The initiative will be lead by a TEDC staff member who will coordinate activities and work directly with the Employer Council to develop tools, resources and disseminate information that will assist employers in the attraction, recruitment and retention of skilled newcomers.

Comprised of human resource and management representatives from various sectors, the Employer Council's efforts will be focused on identifying existing employment opportunities and skills gaps,  programs and training opportunities to assist employers, and implementing programs that facilitate the matching of newcomers and employment opportunities to the benefit of the applicant, the employer and the community.

To sit on the Employers Council or for additional information, please contact Crystal Bresson, Employer Council Coordinator at (705) 360-2600 ext. 7008 or email crystal.bresson@timmins.ca

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Media Contact:

Crystal Bresson
Employer Council Coordinator
Timmins Economic Development Corporation
Crystal.bresson@timmins.ca
(705)360-2600 ext. 7008
(705)262-8778

Brenda Camirand
Community Development Consultant
Timmins Economic Development Corporation
Brenda.camirand@timmins.ca
(705) 266-0481