Niagara Workforce Coalition

As of December, 2023, only 58.7% of individuals in Niagara aged 15 years and older are currently working, and retirees are exiting the workforce faster than people are entering. Unprecedented labour shortages are negatively affecting business productivity and with the forecast for population and economic growth in Niagara within the next few years, these issues will become more challenging.  Following the pandemic, new ways of working emerged and the demand for new workplace skills exacerbated.  At the same time, many Niagarans and newcomers to Niagara are not working in jobs that are aligned to their career interests and skill sets. There is a growing mismatch between the skills workers have and those that employers are seeking.  

Last year (2023-2024) much of our project work was focused on community discussions and engagement, and the above challenges were often discussed.  We provided multiple avenues for people and organizations to connect and engage on these key labour market issues.  A result of these conversations was a renewed interest in a multi-disciplinary community coalition group to form and focus on key labour market priorities.   

The goal will be to develop a long-term workforce development strategy that: 

• Addresses talent attraction and retention strategies for in-demand jobs and emerging sectors. 
• Shares data and knowledge between partners and mobilizes information to interested parties, including employers. 
• Strengthens partnerships and proactively engages in workforce development initiatives 

This project will provide an opportunity to engage employers in conversation around attraction and retention strategies for in-demand jobs and emerging sectors.