More newcomers accessing employment services in SDG, Prescott-Russell

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As part of a three-year action plan that began in 2022, the Eastern Ontario Training Board (EOTB) recently released findings from its third Local Labour Market Plan for SDG and Prescott-Russell.

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EOTB labour market analyst Diane Soucie indicated the number of newcomers accessing employment services in SDG increased from 136 in 2022-23 to 377 in 2023-24, which is an uptick of 241. Participation of newcomers in the literacy and basic skills program in SDG also increased by 79 learners, growing from 103 to 182 in the same time period.

Soucie said she was referencing Employment Ontario data for these statistics.

“Data does not specifically consider the impact of asylum seekers,” she said, indicating that data related to immigrants is largely sourced from the Statistics Canada 2021 census, which includes information about longer-term immigrants as well as recent newcomers.

Attracting marginalized groups and newcomers to the workforce was identified as one of four key priorities in the labour market plan update, along with identifying skills in demand and promoting training to upskill; promoting in-demand occupations; and assisting employers to attract new workers and retain existing employees.

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“The EOTB together with community partners agreed that the priorities first identified in 2012 and confirmed in 2021 no longer fully reflected current economic- and workforce-development challenges and opportunities,” reads a statement in the plan, indicating 27 stakeholders met in November 2023 to revise the key priorities set out the plan.

Recent actions taken to meet these priorities includes facilitating training and work placements in high demand occupations; virtual and in-person training for employers; and the implementation and maintenance of www.YourNextJob.ca, a website that serves as a local job board, provides resources for jobseekers, students making career decisions, and employers.

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Soucie said there weren’t unexpected surprises in the findings of the plan. Of concern for the region is the trend of an aging workforce. While this is a concern for Ontario, it is seen more prominently in the local market.

As of 2021, 40 per cent of the Cornwall and SDG labour market was comprised of workers age 50 and older, while 34 per cent of the workforce met this age threshold on a provincial scale. The median age of the population in SDG is 47.6 compared to 41.6 across the province.

“If unaddressed, the aging population in Cornwall and SDG will make the current labour market shortages increasingly acute,” said Soucie. “This heightens the importance of attracting, welcoming, and retaining those moving into the area, as well as addressing housing challenges as identified by Bob Peters in his 2024 Year in Review (presentation) in December.

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The plan highlighted positive trends, like the regional unemployment rate being lower than provincial or national averages, 822 new businesses operating in the region from June 2022-June 2024, and that a net 5,958 people moved to the area between 2017 and 2022. There is ongoing labour market demand in almost all sectors and at all educational levels, the most significant being in the transportation and warehousing sectors, health-care sectors, as well as skilled trades.

When looking at the demand for skilled-trades workers, Soucie said 2021 statistics suggested 985 fewer members of the local workforce had an apprenticeship credential and local employers reinforced a need for skilled-trades workers. While this demand was not always reflected in the number of online job postings issued in 2024, Soucie said she learned that in some cases this was a result of the hiring process existing between labour unions and employers, with unions being highly involved in training, and the employer turning to them when in need of an employee. In some cases, employers relied heavily on word of mouth in this sector, making networking especially critically important for individuals interested in pursuing a career in skilled trades.

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