Entrepreneurs avoid struggle to find work in Thunder Bay

The head of the North Superior Workforce Planning Board says she's feeling optimistic based on the latest report on labour force trends in the Thunder Bay area.

Madge Richardson said she's encouraged by the projected demand for workers in construction, mining and forestry.

But while many still struggle to find work, she said a significant number have embraced the entrepreneurial spirit.

"I think it's a combination of people being more creative in identifying where they can set up shop and what they can provide the community that isn't provided."

Richardson said more than 200 new owner-run businesses popped up in the district over the past year.

She added that the trend speaks to the number of services available to people to help them set up new businesses organizations like PARO, the Innovation Centre, and the CEDC's entrepreneur centres.

Richardson saidthe workforce planning board will focus on learning more about the labour force, and what skills, training and support programs workers need.

Skills 'mismatch'

The "regional HR plan" that the boardwill develop will give the government an idea of where to put funds to support programs.

Richardson said a focus will be to speak with community partners to identify what the existing supply of labour looks like in the region. "... to start discussing all the education and skills that the present labour force has at [its] disposal.

She said they want to know what are the demographics of the people that are looking for work. [Those] demographics [include] people who will be graduating from high school [and] people [who] are presently laid off and looking for work. What sort of skill development, or additional education or upgrading do they require to position themselves to be competitive for when [job] opportunities arise?"

The report also highlights the challenges young people, particularly those aged 15 24, face as they search for work.

"I think youth unemployment is going to be a huge focus for the planning board, and a lot of the service providers in the region over the next year, Richardson said.

"I believe there's a mismatch [between] the skills people [have] and the skills employers require. We're going to have to look at trying to match those much more closely."

Richardson noted the report is not all good news, saying itshows Thunder Bay is recovering from the recession, but can go into the next year feeling hopeful.

"A lot of the sectors are showing promise and growth, she said.So it's going to be a good year to watch for that and to see how we might be able to assist it.