Vol 9, Issue 4, September 24, 2021
Hamilton's Labour Market Connection
Your weekly news & updates from WPH!
In this week’s edition: It's time we listen to what women need to thrive at work, VPI working solutions COJG program opportunity , city of Hamilton's 2021 youth strategy re-engagement project , and Virtual youth committee volunteer opportunity.
It’s time we listen to what women need to thrive at work
Government, businesses and society have an opportunity like never before to rebuild systems of work that function better for women – if we choose to.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how much work we still have to do on gender parity in the workforce. In the labour market, women were hit earlier and harder, and their jobs continue to recover more slowly, with labour force participation in Canada currently at a 20-year low. RBC Economics, Statistics Canada and The Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce have been tracking the data since the pandemic hit last March.
The disproportionate effect on women has even been described as a “she-cession” by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Here are some of their key findings as well as the trends we have seen first-hand in our communities.
  • Women tend to work in industries most affected by closures, earning losses and layoffs.
  • Women shoulder more of the unpaid work in households such as childcare, elder care, cleaning and cooking and may have had to refuse work or seek a reduction in hours due to escalating responsibilities and shutdowns.
  • Women-led businesses tend to be smaller, newer and less well financed than those owned by men.
  • Women are more likely to be in temporary, part-time and precarious employment, which typically does not provide sick days, benefits or paid time off.
  • Traditional gender norms, mindsets and financial realities have meant that men’s careers have been prioritized throughout the pandemic.
  • The longer women are out of the labour force, the greater the risk of skills erosion, network separation and widening of the confidence gap. This will make it harder for women to re-enter at the same level or above as when they left.
As leaders of people, departments and businesses, we have a choice. We can return to our pre-pandemic “business as usual” and settle for the talent we are able to attract with outdated and unequal systems of work.
VPI working solutions COJG program opportunity
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) is a government-funded subsidy that offsets the cost of training new and existing employees. The goal of this program is to help employers invest in their workforce by sharing the cost of training – ultimately, to support job creation, increase job quality or provide job advancement opportunities. Our role is to help employers navigate the application process and distribute reimbursements on behalf of Employment Ontario. Our services are provided to employers for free.

For more information, or assistance with your application, fill out an information request form.

PROGRAM BENEFITS
  • Save up to 5/6 of training costs for eligible employers – up to $10,000 reimbursement per trainee
  • Enhanced employee satisfaction and improved business performance
  • Freedom to choose the employees to be trained, type of training and training provider
  • Available to small, medium and large organizations
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
  • Less than one year in duration
  • Provided in Ontario by an eligible third-party trainer
  • Scheduled to begin after application approval
  • Must be training for employees
  • Not legally required due to law, regulation or policy
  • Not an apprenticeship; not consulting for organization
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
  • Tuition and related fees
  • textbooks, software and other required materials (e.g. training clothing, tools, equipment, disability supports, etc.)
  • Mandatory student fees
  • examination fees
City of Hamilton’s 2021 Youth Strategy Re-Engagement Project
The City of Hamilton is working on finalizing its youth strategy. The youth strategy will help determine the top 5 priorities for youth age 14-29 and ways for youth to be more engaged in their communities.
They are asking for youth, community partners, and parents of youth to participate in and attend our Youth Strategy Focus Groups. 
The Focus Groups will feature two rounds of breakout rooms. The topics of the breakout rooms will be “Services in Hamilton” and “What is it like being a youth in Hamilton”.

Focus groups dates and times are as followed:
Youth Focus Groups September 25 – 1 to 3 pm September 29 – 6 to 8 pm
Parent Focus Group October 4 – 6:30 to 8 pm
Partner Focus Group October 7 – 1 to 2:30 pm

They hope members from your organization will join us. Your perspectives are important to this process.
They are looking for support from our community partners to share the information about focus groups with youth and parents through your networks and social media channels. The more voices of youth and parents that participate, the stronger we can understand the priorities for our youth. They also encourage you to refer youth to participate through your day to day interactions in the community.
Please tag @HamOntYouth on Instagram and @CityofHamilton on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please use the #HamOntYouthStrategy
Virtual youth committee volunteer opportunity
Workforce Planning Hamilton is seeking young professionals interested in digital job development in the Hamilton region. WPH has been able to connect with you individually to discuss our upcoming Virtual Youth Committee.

The goal for this committee is to develop a community wide strategy to support high youth unemployment rates and to assist youth in the Hamilton region in navigating labour market information. This committee of youth and employers will be able to create a digital platform that will feature centralized information for youth in Hamilton. Our hope is that this information will ultimately help youth with networking opportunities, hiring processes, employer advice, and provide youth with a better grasp of what Hamilton’s labour market reveals to support with employment decisions.

Please reach out and send your resume before Friday October 29th, 2021 : info@workforceplanninghamilton.ca 


The Hamilton COVID Concierge for Business is a one-stop online resource centre and phone line dedicated to supporting Hamilton businesses with their COVID-19 business questions and concerns.
Hamilton businesses can call the COVID Concierge at 905-521-3989 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm) or Contact Us online.


The Hamilton COVID Concierge for Business is brought to you by the Hamilton COVID Concierge Team, comprised of the City of Hamilton and the three local Chambers of Commerce.
Workforce Planning Hamilton | 905-521-5777| info@workforceplanninghamilton.ca | www.workforceplanninghamilton.ca