As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of growth and feeling energized for 2025! Through evolving partnerships, meaningful conversations, and collaborative action, this year has demonstrated the transformative power of working together.
We’re grateful to work with inspiring and courageous people who are with us in thinking and doing differently. Before we jump into 2025, we’re celebrating some of the wins from 2024:
New Services
This year we expanded our partnerships with Literacy Link Niagara and the Niagara Industrial Association. Workforce Collective staff started to provide project management, marketing and communications, event coordination and administrative support for LLN and NIA.
We figured out ways to efficiently enhance operational capacity to provide better value and support to our community. Now, we’re working on pursuing the exciting opportunities that are emerging from our deepened connection and diversified perspective.
We also piloted a service to support Niagara’s small and medium-sized businesses with workforce planning and strategic HR guidance. As a “sidekick workforce planner” partner to Girotti Machine Ltd. for 6 months, we explored strategies to attract and retain skilled talent—putting ideas into action to build a future-ready workforce.
Advancing Workforce Inclusion
As Niagara’s Immigrant Employment Council, we worked in partnership with the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC), to deliver the National Employer Feedback Channels project. In it, we’re amplifying employer and system actor voices and learning about their experience in navigating the immigration system when trying to connect with, hire, and support newcomer talent. This project is being hosted in 9 communities across the country and is gathering feedback and experiences to shape programs and policies that support workforce inclusion, talent retention, and economic growth.
Locally, our Employer Feedback Forums in Niagara and Hamilton opened the floor for candid discussions, fresh ideas, and practical solutions to pressing challenges in immigrant employment. Over 140 employers and other system actors participated in these forums in Niagara and Hamilton in 2024.
Driving Systemic Change
The Niagara Workforce Coalition stands out as a powerful example of our collaboration in action. This multi-sector coalition, facilitated by Workforce Collective, brings together leaders from municipalities, educational institutions, employment services, and industry associations. More than 120 community leaders were engaged (many on a monthly basis) in the Coalition’s inaugural year. Together, we’re addressing workforce challenges and fostering positive change in our local workforce ecosystem.
In 2024, the coalition made strides in integrating workforce planning, sharing data and strengthening partnerships. We also created a white paper to highlight key insights and 15 Niagara-specific opportunities and actions to propel workforce development. These efforts lay the foundation for a more inclusive and future-ready workforce in Niagara.
Welcoming new team members
And, finally, a year in review wouldn’t be complete without a special shoutout to the great people who joined the Workforce Collective team in 2024.
Looking Ahead
As we step into next year, we’re looking forward to riding the wave of momentum from 2024. Thank you to all our project partners, collaborators, and supporters who helped to make this exciting year possible!
Our focus remains steadfast: listening, learning, and co-creating solutions alongside our partners to build a thriving community powered by a diverse and healthy workforce.
Connect with us: Let’s shape the future of work together. Whether you’re an employer seeking talent solutions, a community leader driving systems change, or someone with an innovative idea to share—we’d love to connect.
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