Meeting the Workforce
Challenge
Presentation to
Electricity Human Resources Canada
John Somers
Senior Executive Director, Skills and Learning Branch
Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education
Nova Scotia’s Workforce Challenge
• Nova Scotia’s challenges
are not uncommon in
mature economies
• A self- re-enforcing cycle:
Economy
• Economic growth
• Population growth
• Work force growth
• Cycle can be positive or
negative
• Market forces do not
always favour individual
jurisdictions
• People without jobs, jobs
without people
Population
Workforce
Economic Growth
• Growth in real GDP (1990-2009):
– Nova Scotia: 40.6 %
Economy
• Major opportunities in the near
future:
– $25 Billion in ship construction
– $1.2 Billion in Maritime Link
– $2 billion in offshore exploration
• How will we ensure we are ready?
Population
Workforce
Population
• Nova Scotia’s population stable
at 945,00 (2011)
• Not projected to increase in
foreseeable future
• Low birth rates
• Net intra-provincial outmigration
• Aging population: 18 – 64
share of population:
– 2011: 65.2 %
– 2036: 55.1 %
Economy
Population
Workforce
The workforce
• Relatively low labour
participation rate
• Significant segments of the
population are underrepresented
• Projected gap in skilled trades
people
Economy
Population
Workforce
Key Provincial Government Touch Points in
Workforce Development
• Labour and Advanced Education (LAE )
• Advanced Education
• Skills and Learning Branch:
• Employment Nova Scotia
• Workplace Initiatives
• Apprenticeship Training
• Policy and Planning
•
•
•
•
•
Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI)
Department of Community Services
External Service Providers
LAE Labour Market Programming
Clients
LMDA:
EI Part II Benefits
and Support
Measures:
E.I. – eligible
• Careers Resource
Centres
• Skills
Development
• Self-Employment
• Start
$84 Million
open-ended
3rd party service
providers
Strong
Attachment
Direct funding to individuals
Weak
Attachment
LMA:
$14 Million Federal
Funds
expires March 31st,
2014
Provincial Programs:
Start
Skills-up
Works for You
3rd party
service
providers
Direct funding to individuals
No
Attachment
Targeted Interventions
Pre Employment
Recruitment
Hiring
Training
On-line HR Tool Kit
On-line HR Tool Kit
Careers Nova Scotia
START
One Journey Work and Learn
Apprenticeship
Skills On-line NS
WIPSI
One Journey / Work and Learn
• Starts with a business or industry-identified
skills shortage
• Employers interview people based on ‘fit’ with
their business/industry
• Customized training delivered to meet industryspecific needs
• Win-Win: people without jobs obtain
employment; jobs without people are filled
with skilled workers
Essentials to Certification
(a One Journey Work and Learn “sub program”)
• People working in a trade are provided with essential skills
training to enable them to successfully write their exams
• They achieve Journeyperson status and can, in turn, take on
apprentices
• Win-Win: Tradespeople achieve certification and more
apprenticeship positions become available.
Skills On-Line
• Increased accessibility to learning
• Businesses and individuals access training when
and where they need it
• Electronic learning records follow people from
job to job
• Businesses can create ‘learning networks’ for
staff and create their own customized online
training options
• Customized content to meet Nova Scotia’s
business needs: HR, Social Media, and…
• Coming soon: ‘Getting Ready’… to take
advantage of those major projects.
What will success look like?
•
•
•
•
More Immigrants
settling in Nova Scotia
More young people
attracted to, or staying
in Nova Scotia
Proportionally less outmigration
Economy
•
•
Population
Workforce
•
•
Increased workforce
participation rates,
especially in underrepresented groups
Better targeting of
educational and
training programs
More and
enhanced training
in the workplace
Greater employer
engagement in the
training system
Fewer regulatory
barriers to labour
mobility