December 2021 News Bulletin
NL Workforce Innovation Centre rolling out Regional Workforce Development Committees across Newfoundland & Labrador
November 23, 2021

NLWIC kicked off a series of regional workforce development meetings over the last several weeks focused on the creation and retention of a diverse, inclusive, innovative and productive workforce.

Ten Regional Workforce Development Committees (RWDCs) are in the process of being implemented. The objective of these committees is to develop regionally tailored workforce development work plans, supporting a healthy and productive labour market now and into the future. 

In November 2019, the provincial government released The Way Forward on Workforce Development, which included four new activities mandated to NLWIC. One of the activities was to establish these committees in collaboration with the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills (IPGS).

These committees, comprising provincial and federal government departments and College of the North Atlantic, will serve as ongoing planning platforms for localized labour market activities and initiatives. These groups are charged with developing and implementing regionally-tailored workforce development actions plans – specifically: 1) developing and disseminating labour market information; 2) identifying priority focus areas for training and development; and, 3) collaboratively using labour market programs and services, including immigration-related supports.

According to Sharon McLennon, NLWIC Director, “These Regional Workforce Development Committees will be integral to working within their regions to create and retain a diverse and inclusive, innovative, and productive workforce. The work will assist with economic recovery in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the health, well-being and economic prosperity of all of our regions, its people, and the province overall. The RWDCs will work collaboratively through their continuous action planning and doing to connect these dots.”
Navigate Entrepreneur Ecosystem Coffee Break – Shop Local Bonanza!
 
bo·nan·za  noun
/bəˈnanzə/
“a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits.”
 
You know what gifts and goods are not sitting delayed on cargo ships? Anything made right here by local businesses! Shop local this Christmas for a gift that gives twice!
 
Join us on December 8 to hear from local entrepreneurs about the deals and promotions they are offering this Christmas and meet shop local champions to learn about the many tools and supports that are out there to help local businesses reach customers.
 
If you are a local entrepreneur and are interested in promoting your business, register now at the link below!
 
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 8th from 11:30am-1pm

Open to all. Free to attend. In partnership with Spicer Facilitation and Learning.


In case you missed it,

NLWIC Director Sharon McLennon was a guest on November's Entrepreneur Ecosystem
Coffee Break to discuss key resources and opportunities to help business owners recruit talent and address labour shortage challenges.

Check out this video! >>>
Good data can help shape good policies. To close gaps in labour market information, we need to better understand the needs and priorities of users.

The Labour Market Information Council and Stats Canada want to know what your priorities are and the gaps you face when using labour market information. Your opinion will help shape action to address LMI gaps.

Please note the survey deadline has been extended to December 24, 2021.
The Business + Higher Education Roundtable Launches
New WIL Hub
November 19th, 2021

The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) announces the launch of its new WIL Hub. The creation of this “one-stop shop” for work-integrated learning tools and resources was made possible through generous support from the Government of Canada. 

“As we look to build a strong, inclusive and resilient economic recovery, it is important that post-secondary graduates gain the skills and work experience they’ll need to succeed on the job,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The Business + Higher Education Roundtable’s initiative will provide employers with the tools and resources they need to explore, invest in, and create quality work-integrated learning opportunities for Canada’s post-secondary students to succeed in today's economy.”

BHER has set a goal of helping every student in Canada get a WIL opportunity during their first post-secondary diploma or degree. That also means helping Canada’s businesses, in partnership with post-secondary institutions, expand access to quality WIL. 

Through a national consultation, BHER asked Canada’s employers and WIL stakeholders what tools and resources they needed to create or expand access to quality WIL. And then we went out and built them.

The WIL Hub contains easy-to-use, evidence-based tools and resources that respond directly to what we heard from industry and education stakeholders across the country. Nothing like it exists and some of what’s here, like our ROI Calculator and Find Your WIL tool, are the first of their kind. 

Through the WIL Hub, employers will be able to explore, invest in, and create quality WIL opportunities. 
ONGOING STUDENT RECRUITMENT also includes Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities (EOSD) & Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity (ISEO)
Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

Are you a student searching for a full-time or part-time work opportunity? Apply for a Government of Canada student job!

As the country’s largest employer, we are proud to hire thousands of students every year to support us in delivering services to Canadians.

Benefits:
✓ explore different careers in the federal public service
✓ gain work experience while developing your skills
✓ apply knowledge from your areas of study
✓ be part of a respectful and inclusive work environment

What types of student jobs are available?
We have a wide variety of jobs from coast to coast, in diverse fields, such as administration, agriculture, communications, enforcement, finance, IT, policy, and many more.

Students work in offices and laboratories, on ships and farms, at historical sites and national parks, among many other locations, in more than 300 cities and towns across Canada.
Healthy job growth in November but the spectre of Omicron looms
The Conference Board of Canada
December 3, 2021 
Brain Gain: New Supports to Help Retain International Graduates
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
December 2, 2021

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, was joined by Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University, to announce a bundle of supports for post-secondary graduates seeking employment in Newfoundland and Labrador. Successfully gaining employment in the province enables international graduates to then apply to immigrate permanently.

Medical Care Plan (MCP) coverage, which is already available to international students during their studies, is now extended by 90 days post-graduation. This policy change makes this medical care coverage among “best-in-class” in Canada. MCP for international students is now aligned with the length of study permits and will provide coverage while graduates seek career opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Funding of $66,847.00 will go towards the Retaining Global Talent project that will support international graduates to find employment in the province and prepare them for the transition to work after graduation. The funding will include the creation of a Postgraduate Retention Coordinator position with the School of Graduate Studies. With the establishment of this role, Memorial University is providing a level of student support that is almost nonexistent across graduate schools in Canada.

Funding of $26,612.76 will go toward expanding the award-winning Professional Skills Development Program to include practical work experience for students. Students who gain local labour market experience during their studies are better equipped to expand their professional connections, leading to improved employment prospects after graduation. This expansion complements other elements of the program, including resume and cover letter workshops, job search and networking exercises, interview preparation and immigration advising.

An additional $27,278.00 will go to fund the Supporting Newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador project. The project will see intercultural training sessions delivered to audiences including the university community, employers and sector groups. The goal is to provide training that will foster a better understanding and appreciation of international students and their unique cultures, leading to improved outcomes for students while they study and after they graduate.

These new supports build on a comprehensive set of immigration initiatives launched in the last year in support of the target of welcoming 5,100 permanent residents annually by 2026. 
Coming Soon!

Stay tuned for updates from our NL Workforce Innovators' research projects funded by NLWIC including video from our October NL Workforce Innovators Roundtable 2021.

Coming January 2021.
The NLWIC office will be closed from December 24 to January 3 and will reopen on January 4.

2021 has been an exciting year for workforce innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador. We look forward to continue working with our CNA colleagues, as well as our partners, collaborators and all labour market stakeholders in our province in 2022!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season,
The NLWIC Team
The NL Workforce Innovation Centre (NLWIC) has a provincial mandate to provide a coordinated, central point of access to engage all labour market stakeholders about challenges, opportunities and best practices in workforce development. 

The Centre’s goal is to promote and support the research, testing and sharing of ideas and models of innovation in workforce development that will positively impact employability, employment, and entrepreneurship within the province’s labour market and particularly underrepresented groups. Funding for NLWIC is provided by the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills (IPGS) under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.