Niagara has an experienced labour force of more than 200,000 people, including a high proportion of technically skilled workers that is attractive to employers.
The direct correlation between educational achievement and positive economic development is well documented. Niagara's future prosperity depends on the strength of its people and on its capacity to produce and attract skilled graduates and versatile workers. Niagara Workforce Planning Board's 2009-2013 Niagara Labour Market Plan: A Vision in Action will provide important leadership in the continuing development of Niagara's overall labour market.
Encourage collaboration between, secondary and post-secondary institutions to create the most highly qualified individuals in order to provide the labour force for the future economic growth of Niagara in all sectors of the economy.
Recognize and build upon the strength of current educational infrastructure, community involvement and other innovative forms of education in Niagara.
Develop a collaborative program promoting secondary and post-secondary school co-op and work placements among Niagara employers.
Continue the process of collaborative partnerships between Niagara College, Brock University, and other educational institutions.
Encourage Niagara educational institutions to create programs that help provide a qualified supply of skilled labour for the regional economy.
Broaden the base of apprenticeship programs to support skilled trades.
Maximize the skills of Niagara's existing labour force within a transitioning economy.
Increase our capacity to effectively match people to jobs based on skills and competencies, not credentials alone.
Build awareness among Niagara employers about available education and training initiatives.
Attract companies that can utilize Niagara's existing talent base and develop training and re-training programs in growth industries.
Support the skills development needs of displaced workers to facilitate their return to Niagara's labour force.
Create short-term, intensive and skills training programs that meet specific employee upgrading needs, and help initiate workforce skills to jobs action plans.
Explore opportunities for repatriation of workers who have left Niagara, as specialized labour shortages intensify.
Build on Niagara's significant competitive advantage with respect to trade, college and diploma certificates to help retain highly skilled
individuals to support the growth and success of Niagara's economy.
Encourage Niagara employers to proactively participate in building a learning culture.
Foster employer commitment to staff training and lifelong learning and highlight Niagara-based “best practices.”
Assist small and medium-sized employers to build human resource capacity, including the assessment of education/training needs and workforce development programs, and applied research capabilities.
Attract immigrants and actively integrate them into the Niagara community and economy.
Provide relevant information on Niagara's social and economic opportunities to immigrants entering Canada.
Work with Niagara-based immigrant support services to encourage the retention and relocation of immigrants to Niagara.
Improve Niagara's overall educational attainment levels.
Encourage stronger links between local employers and Niagara's educational institutions, with a specific focus on improving the overall level of educational attainment by residents.
Create bi-national educational partnerships in strategic employment fields (e.g., international trade, tourism, border security).
Support the development of applied degrees that meet the needs of the local economy.
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