The Now Hiring Hamilton project commenced research in June 2021 as a collaboration between the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Mohawk College, Workforce Planning Hamilton, and the city’s economic development department. Photo credit: Tourism Hamilton
Canada is facing a significant labour shortage across several sectors.
Per data collected by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) at the end of 2021, over half of businesses around the country (55 per cent) cannot find enough workers to meet their needs.
To help local employers find and retain staff, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Mohawk College, Workforce Planning Hamilton, and the city’s economic development department, started Now Hiring Hamilton in June 2021.
The initiative extensively surveyed the Hamilton small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape to identify existing resources, gaps in resources, and the needs of local businesses.
On Wednesday, the partnership released the results of its research and launched a new suite of online resources for Hamilton SMEs.
“The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has stood by businesses since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Marie Nash, interim CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
“We have heard about the challenges they face with recruitment and retention, especially as the workforce changes. The Now Hiring Hamilton project and its resources are a direct line of support for SMEs to help them with their workforce development priorities.”
Key findings detailed in the report include:
Recruitment is challenging for SMEs due to a significant mismatch between jobseeker expectations and what the employer is able to offer.
The high cost of living in Hamilton, and competition among employers to recruit, has created retention challenges as SMEs try to keep wages at pace with inflation.
Jobseekers of younger generations are very interested in how a job can become a career.
The qualified candidate pool is too small, and that those seeking entry-level employment often lack one or more basic skills.
SMEs are missing out on potential candidates because they are not equipped with the tools they need to facilitate inclusive, equitable, and diverse hiring (EDI).
Based on the project’s findings, three specific resource guides were created for Now Hiring Hamilton. Businesses can now access the guides online for free.
“I commend the partners who have collaborated on the Now Hiring Hamilton initiative,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook.
“Our government recognizes that the inability of employers to find the skilled and qualified workers they need is an impediment to our economic recovery. The additional tools being offered to the business community to recruit and retain employees will help to grow the economy in Hamilton and around the Golden Horseshoe.”
Now Hiring Hamilton was funded by the Ontario Labour Market Partnership with support from both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
Click here to read the full report and access the guidebooks.
