In this Week's Edition:

Hamilton's Labour Force Information January 2023, Black History Month Data, EmployerOne Survey 2023, EmployerOne Completion Badge, Connect To Careers Conference 2023, Youth Employment Network (YEN), Hiring In Hamilton, Happening in the Community: (Ancaster Food Drive Volunteers, HWDSB: Continuing Education, Health Care Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT), ABEA: Adult Learner Conference, ABEA: Better Jobs Ontario) and News: "When Indigenous youth succeed, whole communities benefit" and "Leaders: Rise to the challenge of ensuring workplace well-being!"

Labour Force January 2023

Review Hamilton's Labour Force Information for January 2023

Review Hamilton's Annual Labour Force Stats for 2022

Black History Month Data

(From StatsCan)

February is Black History Month

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.



The 2023 theme for Black History Month is: “Ours to tell”. This theme represents both an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories Black communities in Canada have to tell about their histories, successes, sacrifices and triumphs.

No matter where you live, we invite all Canadians to learn more about these communities, and how they continue to help shape Canadian history.

EmployerOne Survey 2023

Workforce Planning Hamilton (WPH) in partnership with the City of Hamilton's Economic Development Office have launched the 2023 EmployerOne Survey. This survey features important workforce development questions, and focuses on the challenges businesses have endured throughout the global pandemic. Hamilton employers across all industries have the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns.

While census information offers us an understanding of labour market trends, the EmployerOne Survey provides an up-to-date snapshot of the Hamilton labour market and insights into how we can continue to move our economy forward. It also keeps us in touch with a wide range of employers of all sectors and sizes.

This survey has approximately 30 questions and will take 15 minutes to complete. The findings will only be published in an aggregated form to maintain the confidentiality of all survey respondents.

Click here to participate in the survey as a Hamilton Employer!

Employers who complete the survey have the chance to be entered into a draw to win a booth at the upcoming 'Connect to Careers' conference (valued at over $700)

EmployerOne Completion Badge!

Employers (for-profit business, not-for-profit business, or registered charity) completing the 2023 EmployerOne survey will provide Workforce Planning Hamilton and the City of Hamilton with critical and timely data on business and workforce needs in Hamilton. Every organization that completes this survey is demonstrating their commitment to charting an evidence-based course for our future.

Upon completion of the EmployerOne survey, you can proudly display this badge to showcase your support in providing such critical data on the workforce needs of Hamilton businesses.

Connect To Careers Conference 2023

Connect to Careers is the best way to find and recruit new talent — presented in partnership by McMaster University, Mohawk College, Redeemer University and Workforce Planning Hamilton.

With years of experience hosting successful job fairs, we can help you meet your recruitment goals and hire qualified candidates for your open positions. Attend Connect to Careers to meet with a diverse audience of motivated students, recent grads and community members. Returning to FirstOntario Centre this year, this in-person event provides an easy, effective way to network and make connections.

We're pleased to announce that we’re partnering with the McMaster University Nursing Student Society (MUNSS), a student body of BSCN students from all sites (McMaster, Mohawk, Conestoga) and all streams (Basic, Accelerated, RPN-BScN). Nursing graduates and current students from all three sites of the collaborative program, Mohawk and Conestoga RPN students will be attending the fair.

Why participate?

• Connect with qualified job seekers.

• Recruit for full-time, part-time, summer and co-op positions.

• Leverage your time and effort and reduce recruitment costs.

• Meet face to face with more than 2,000 students and alumni from three top Hamilton institutions, as well as job seekers from the Hamilton community.

$650 per employer booth (sponsorship packages are available)

If you are part of a not-for-profit organization with fewer than 20 employees, you can register at the reduced fee of $350 (CAD) plus HST.  

Register here!

Youth Employment Network (YEN)

The Youth Employment Network (YEN) works with Hamilton community partners to identify, initiate, and implement innovative solutions to assist young people to find work. Next meeting February 15, 2023 9am-11am.

Join YEN today by emailing michelle.butcher@workforceplanninghamilton.ca for more information!

Ancaster Food Drive Volunteers

Ancaster Food Drive desperately needs volunteers to drop off flyers the morning of Saturday, February 25^th and to pick up food donations the following Saturday morning, March 4^th.

Ancaster Food Drive has received 1,898,500 pounds of donations since their inception 30+ years ago. All donations are distributed to many Hamilton community organizations supporting residents facing food insecurity. 

If you wish to, please click on the following link to see which routes are available for signing up on line.



https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4EA4AC23AB9-2022 or contact Kelly Caldwell at fooddriveroutes@gmail.com

HWDSB: Continuing Education

(Click to view document)

Health Care Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT)

Mohawk College is offering free, online Health Care Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) to eligible newcomers with a background in the health sector from another country or Canada. OSLT courses help participants develop workplace communication skills while expanding their understanding of Canadian workplaces in Ontario.

The following courses will the next week:

• OSLT Accessing the Health Care Job Market in Ontario
• OSLT for Nurses
• OSLT for Personal Support Workers

For questions, please email LearnEnglish@mohawkcollege.ca

ABEA: Adult Learner Conference

ABEA is hosting our 4th annual virtual Adult Learner Conference on February 14 - 16, 2023. We've lined up some amazing speakers to present at this year's conference! 

Each session is virtual and completely free. You can attend as many sessions as you want using the same Zoom link.

Here is the conference schedule 

Tuesday, February 14th

• 10:00am - Goodwill Employment Services
• 1:00pm - Better Jobs Ontario

Wednesday, February 15th

• 10:00am - Exploring Education Options with ABEA
• 1:00pm - Housing Supports

Thursday, February 16th

• 10:00am - Free Mental Health Services
• 12:00pm - Trivia
• 1:00pm - Ontario Works 



Do you have clients that might be interested in attending any of these sessions? If so, please send them a link to our Adult Learner Conference page. Here they can view the event schedule and register. 

ABEA: Better Jobs Ontario

ABEA will work with you to:

• find training programs you're interested in 
• explore the skills you'll need for the training 
• develop a plan
• connect with an Employment Service to support you with your application 

Connect with us today!  www.abea.on.ca  pathways@abea.on.ca  

When Indigenous youth succeed, whole communities benefit

Indigenous youth across Canada face serious challenges when it comes to employment. It’s a complex problem, and will require integrated, collaborative solutions. At a time when unprecedented numbers of Indigenous youth are entering the workforce, it’s critical that employers look at everything that a young Indigenous person brings to the workplace and to their community.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2016, the unemployment rate for Indigenous youth was 23%, compared with 15.1% for non-Indigenous youth. Recent data on the COVID-19 downturn show that although youth encountered a challenging summer job landscape in 2020, the labour market was much more favourable in 2021. Employment was slower to recover for Indigenous peoples overall, so it’s great to see Indigenous youth employment trending upward.

Despite this, barriers to Indigenous youth employment persist, especially in remote areas. These barriers are multifaceted. Many Indigenous youth lack the education needed for some jobs, and work experience can be hard to come by. Another sad reality is that some Indigenous people experience racism and discrimination in the workplace, which can lead to lack of respect, care and understanding for their culture and values. Other challenges faced by Indigenous youth are transportation to and from work, and lack of support for child care or family responsibilities.

Compounding these issues are the very real physical and mental health impacts of inadequate housing, unhealthy living conditions and lack of clean drinking water that too many Indigenous communities face. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these barriers.

Read more here!

Leaders: Rise to the challenge of ensuring workplace well-being!

Well-being is hard to quantify, so it often ends up in the bucket of projects “we will get to one day when we have time.” Yet making sure your team is physically well and psychologically safe is a constant for all team leaders.

I run a coaching practice with a focus on collective well-being, kind leaders and positive workplaces – all informed by a growth mindset. Prompted by my observations of a very fatigued workforce in late 2021, I started questioning what was really going on and looking for ways to better support my clients in a very practical way.

The importance of well-being, particularly mental health, has always been a focus of mine. Around six years ago, after extensive research, I developed an Engagement and Well-being Index – a survey for my clients to complete as a kind of conversation starter. I have found the Index particularly useful over the past two years as it has often helped clients get some clarity around exactly what they need to address when it comes to living at their best, what’s missing, what needs more attention and what is working well.

In the Index, I’ve outlined five pillars of life engagement and well-being:

1. Connection
2. Purpose
3. Success
4. Health
5. Creativity

These pillars are integral to good overall health and engagement in life. ‘Connection’ is the foundational pillar, as our relationships affect the other pillars in multiple ways.

Healthy relationships, that sense of belonging and the self-worth we gain from contributing to the lives of others can inform our purpose and how successful we feel, affect our health and allow self-expression/creativity to flourish.

Organizations have a role to play to support employee engagement and well-being. Being an employer of choice equates to good workplace culture. At work, people can foster positive connections, feel like they belong, develop and maintain a sense of purpose, feel competent and be at their best.

Read more here!