As we navigate workforce opportunities in Niagara, it’s crucial to understand factors shaping the local workforce landscape. Beyond the data, it’s equally important to spotlight ongoing initiatives supporting decent work—a cornerstone of sustainable economic and social development.
Understanding Niagara’s Workforce Landscape
Niagara’s population has steadily grown since 2001, with an acceleration in recent years. While population growth can be attributed to many factors, demographic shifts signal opportunities to tap into a growing and diverse talent pool.
Much of our work over the past number of years has focused on women in work and immigrant employment. While the population is split nearly 50/50 between men and women, men consistently participate in the labour force at higher rates. Immigration continues to shape Niagara’s population. Between January and August 2024, over 2,000 permanent residents indicated plans to settle in Niagara, reinforcing the region’s role as a welcoming destination for newcomers. However, integrating into the labour market remains a persistent challenge. Factors like credential recognition, language barriers, and limited professional networks often hinder newcomers from securing meaningful employment.
Opportunities for Decent Work
Addressing workforce challenges requires a commitment to fostering decent work, defined by the International Labour Organization as “…opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all…”. We’re engaged in advancing this vision through several different ways.
1. Supporting Women in the Workforce
In 2023, we focused on the caring economy—sectors like early learning and childcare, non-profits, and education—where women are overrepresented in the workforce. Some of the information sourced in this work supported collaborative efforts around decent work in Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) across Ontario communities. By promoting more efficient practices and competitive employment opportunities, this work aims to enhance job quality and sustainability in the caring economy.
2. Enhancing Immigrant Employment
With much of Canada’s labour force growth driven by immigration, supporting newcomer employment is critical. We collaborate with Immigrant Employment Councils and in IRCC-funded projects to support employers and address hiring challenges. These efforts focus on creating welcoming workplaces that value diverse skills and experiences, benefiting both newcomers and employers.
3. One-on-One Employer Support
Since HR challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were mentioned time and time again at the Niagara Workforce Coalition table, we launched a pilot program to provide workforce planning & recruitment support. This initiative helps employers with talent recruitment and workforce planning, fostering long-term sustainability and enabling decent work. Insights from this six-month pilot will inform support for other SMEs and support local business retention and expansion.
The Role of the Niagara Workforce Coalition
The Niagara Workforce Coalition exemplifies the power of collaboration in tackling workforce challenges. This multi-disciplinary group convenes monthly, bringing together employers, employer-serving organizations, educational institutions, economic developers, employment services, and social service providers. By fostering integrated workforce and service planning, the coalition drives initiatives that support decent work, attract and retain talent, and address systemic labour market issues.
Join the Conversation
These insights and initiatives highlight the interconnected nature of workforce challenges and opportunities in Niagara. By understanding the workforce landscape and collaborating, we can build a labour market that supports workers, employers, and the broader community.
If you’re interested in learning more about Niagara’s workforce trends or participating in initiatives like the Niagara Workforce Coalition, we invite you to connect with us.
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