Workforce
Meeting the increasing demands of employers for skilled workers is a top priority for the London Economic Development Corporation. In 2003, the LEDC created a Workforce portfolio and appointed Jeny Wallace as the Director of Workforce to facilitate activities around building the capacity of the local workforce so business concerns could be addressed. At that time, no other economic development organization had designated such a strategic role for Workforce within their organizations.
Since its creation, the Workforce portfolio has made significant progress in addressing local and area labour force issues. Activities to date include:
- August 2003 development of www.goodmovelondon.com website and support documents to help businesses that are attracting talent from out side of London
- October 2003 LEDC Workforce Survey and report to help identify issues employers are facing
- March 2005 establishment of the London Workforce Development Taskforce
- September 2004, release of the Workforce Strategy for London
- September 2005 launch of the Experience Works resource kits for employers and older workers
- January 2006 publication of the Recruitment Organizations in London providing details of over 60 organizations able to work with companies on recruitment needs
- March 2007 launch of Global Talent
- October 2007 release of the LEDC 2007 Workforce Survey
- October 2007 development of www.londonworks.ca
- October 2007 launch of Enhancing the HR Practices of Small Businesses
Ongoing activities
- Business Workforce Briefings, twice a year seminars where businesses provide details of their workplace and recruitment needs to those working with jobseekers
- Annual Temporary Foreign Worker seminars to help businesses understand visa and immigration processes to bring workers into Canada
- Annual International Student seminars on options for work and immigration to Canada post-graduation
- Support and involvement for the London Immigrant Employment Taskforce and their conference Employing International Talent – Success Stories Revealed on January 25, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Lamplighter Inn
2008 activities
- Student 2 Business Networking Conference 15th January 2008 bringing students from Fanshawe, Western, Brescia, Kings, Huron & Ivey together at the London Convention Centre to learn about London’s businesses, industry sectors and work options post-graduation. Students will be joined by business and community members for a key-note address followed by a networking session
- Youth Employment Strategic planning process - to develop a strategic plan to address issues relating to youth employment in the London CMA area
