Ontario is expanding the province’s new employment services to five more regions to help more people who can and are able to work find better jobs and earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.
The improved system will help thousands of unemployed people in London, Windsor-Sarnia, Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie, Durham, and Ottawa find rewarding jobs close to home, Provincial officials say.
“We are taking significant steps to address Ontario’s historic labour shortage and help more people start their journey towards a career they can be proud of,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, in a media release.
“By expanding and improving our employment services with a renewed focus on helping people lead purpose-driven lives, we are lifting people up, including those on social assistance, so that they can be leaders in their community and help build a stronger Ontario for all of us.”
These new employment services are already in place in Peel, Hamilton–Niagara, Muskoka–Kawartha, Halton, York, Stratford–Bruce Peninsula and Kingston–Pembroke.
By the end of 2023, expansion will be underway in Toronto and Northern Ontario.
“Through this initiative, our government is empowering social assistance recipients who can and are able to work, by giving them the tools they need to gain in-demand skills and find employment,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, in a media release.
“We will continue to build programs that respond to the labour shortage while supporting clients on their path towards long-term financial stability.”
Early results from the regions that launched first with these new employment services shows they are helping those who need it the most:
– Of the 63,233 people on the path to a job, over 23,000 are social assistance recipients
– More than two in five are people with disabilities
– Nearly 1 in 5 are disadvantaged young people, often with prior involvement in the criminal justice system
“The Ontario government’s transformation efforts will lead to better outcomes for workers and those seeking new employment opportunities in our region and the City of Windsor is pleased to be part of delivering on this vision,” said Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor, in a media release.
“Along with our consortium partner Workforce WindsorEssex, the City of Windsor is thrilled to be chosen as the Service System Manager for the Windsor-Sarnia catchment area, including Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent. We are confident that we will be able to deliver an amazing experience as we consolidate and expand the delivery of employment services all while enhancing outcomes for residents in our service area.”
These changes build on the government’s ongoing mission to build a stronger Ontario for the next generation.
The system managers for the new regions are:
– City of London in London
– City of Windsor with Workforce Development Board Windsor Essex in Windsor–Sarnia
– Serco with Deloitte Inc. and Thrive Career Wellness Inc. in Kitchener–Waterloo-–Barrie
– The Regional Municipality of Durham with Durham Workforce Authority and Durham College in Durham
– International APM Group/WCG in Ottawa
As of the third quarter of 2022, 364,045 jobs were going unfilled in Ontario.
In the Windsor-Sarnia area, there were 13,060 vacant jobs, Provincial officials say.
Employment Ontario is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
