A ‘grand reshuffle’ of the workforce is underway, according to a new report from the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.
The report, entitled The Grand Reshuffle: Workforce Reform in Grand Erie, says that the pandemic has caused major shifts in the work lives of thousands of area residents, leading to far-reaching consequences for the labor market.
The report is the board’s annual analysis of the current labor market in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
In a news release, the board said a key theme of the report is that employees are looking for more flexibility in their work lives and that employers must respond by investing more in their workforce, including paying more attention to their staff’s work-life balance.
“People everywhere are making changes in their working lives, which is causing a reshuffle,” said Danette Dalton, the board’s executive director. “A key characteristic of the reshuffle is that people are thinking about work differently. The movement has begun, and norms will be challenged as a result.”
Here are some of the changes cited by the report as being brought on by the pandemic:
• Many employees want to continue to work remotely;
• Workers rethinking their careers are looking for more stability or income certainty;
• And more people choosing to leave the workforce, magnifying an existing labor shortage.
Dalton said that, with labor shortages already hurting many businesses, there is a need for employers to think about making changes within their workplaces to retain and recruit the human talent they need.
“Employers who prioritize their employees’ health and wellness, income needs and career goals will find themselves in a more favorable position moving forward.”
The board said its report is based on the board’s monitoring of the local labor market, which includes looking at data on job postings, employment shifts, the number of businesses and changing demographics. The board also talked with dozens of businesses, community organizations and local leaders to help better understand trends and future workforce needs.
Dalton said she’s optimistic looking at the ever-changing work landscape, but it will take strong leadership, flexibility, innovation and collaboration to make things work well.
“Employers, educators, mentors, workers and students entering the workforce all need to help each other,” she said.
“Being proactive, staying ahead of the curve and thinking differently will help mitigate negative impacts on communities, businesses and workforce.”
The report is available on the board’s website: www.workforceplanningboard.org.
highlights
The Grand Reshuffle is the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s annual report about the local labor force, job market and business climate.
Here are some highlights
• There was a lot of volatility in 2021’s job market, due to the pandemic, with several cycles of ups and downs in employment.
• People working part-time jobs, especially in the food service industry and retail, are looking for more stability, so are considering a career change and exploring retraining.
• Older workers in sectors such as health care and agriculture are opting to retire early, creating questions about who will replace them.
• More people are leaving professional occupations due to heavy workloads and overtime, while others are leaving manual labor jobs due to unpredictable work schedules.
• The top sectors of the local economy that gained businesses in 2021 were real estate, construction, health care, and transportation and warehousing
• The top sectors that lost businesses in 2021 were retail trade, wholesale trade and manufacturing.