The Centre for Workforce Development (CFWD) has been awarded funding under the Ontario Labour Market Partnership program through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to examine participation rates in detail, identify the root causes of this issue and develop strategies to address them.
This project, spanning all of Eastern Ontario, is a collaborative initiative led by CFWD and involving the Workforce Development Board (Local Employment Planning Council – Peterborough), Eastern Workforce Innovation Board, Eastern Ontario Training Board, Ottawa Employment Hub (Local Employment Planning Council – Ottawa), Labour Market Group of Renfrew and Lanark Counties, Quinte Economic Development Commission and Ontario East Economic Development Commission. Community Benchmarks, a research consultant firm that specializes in the measurement and analysis of economic activity and performance, will support the project. In order to understand this labour market issue, two key activities will take place. These include determining the underlying cause(s) of and identifying potential solution(s) to the decrease in labour force participation across Eastern Ontario.
Data research, in-person interviews and on-line surveys were conducted for almost nine months. The results of these efforts were compiled into a detailed overview of what was seen as the root causes to low labour force participation in Eastern Ontario. These findings were presented at forums held in Belleville, Peterborough, Gananoque and Brockville where participants could provide feedback on the actions that were identified by the consultants, Community Benchmarks Inc. A final report was put together and presented to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in late March 2020. A copy of the report can be downloaded below.
