Vol 8, Issue 5, August 27, 2021
Hamilton's Labour Market Connection
Your weekly news & updates from WPH!
In this week’s edition: what's the top reason people consider a new career?, labour force figures-July post pandemic world of career coaching, virtual youth committee volunteer opportunity

What’s the top reason people consider a new career?
Work-life balance is number-one reason, followed by better compensation

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of workers would consider changing careers, according to a survey by FlexJobs.
While money (50 per cent) is a huge consideration for the move, the number one reason is to be in a job or field with a better work-life balance (56 per cent).
Others would do it because they want a more meaningful or fulfilling career (49 per cent) or to expand their professional skill set (43 per cent).

“Transitioning to a different career is a challenging undertaking, but if you're doing it for the right reasons, it can be a wonderful decision full of professional rewards,” says Brie Reynolds, career development manager and coach at FlexJobs.
Labour Force Figures – July
For full-time employment, the overall number of full-time jobs is still down -2% (114,700 jobs) from the start of the pandemic for Ontario[1]. For part-time employment it is nearly back to where employment was pre-pandemic only down 3,300 jobs.
When looking at age, we see that full-time employment is still down 12% for the younger cohort, 15 to 24 years. The other age groups are close to their pre-pandemic numbers. When looking at part-time employment, we see that younger and core-aged workers, 25 to 54 years, are actually above the pre-pandemic numbers. It is older workers, 55 years and over, that are still -11% below their pre-pandemic totals. This shows two things: 1) Many youth are still struggling to find full-time employment, and 2) many older workers that were attached to labour market as part-time workers have not returned. So, while the labour market is imping, when looking at age there are still weaknesses.

[1] The following data is at the Ontario level. Age and sex breakdowns are only available for monthly data at the provincial level. Hamilton’s economy matches the industrial make-up of Ontario closely, so many of the trends observed are also true for Hamilton.
Post Pandemic World of Career Coaching
1. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
2. Client Service Delivery
3. Individual and Group Career Counseling Skills
4. Career Development
5. Career Assessments
6. Career Management Coaching


The future has shifted and will continue to shift. In the face of new complexities, career coaching will need to upscale to meet the demand of our clients to have a meaningful and sustainable experience in charting their career direction.
Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives on a global scale. The future is not as certain as it used to be. With accelerated technological advancement, job security in the working world is becoming an increasing concern with innovations being introduced to take on tasks that were once completed by employees. Family time and personal well-being are starting to become more important to workers. Moreover, today’s employees are looking to unlock their potential through mentorship and coaching in the workplace. How can we then pivot our methods to meet the needs of our clients?
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 to: [email protected] 


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| [email protected] | www.workforceplanninghamilton.ca