A Sarnia-Lambton economic development agency is offering businesses free tips and training on hiring and retaining diverse workforce talent.
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“Our employers are often saying it’s becoming more and more challenging to fill their positions,” said Cari Meloche, economic development officer with the County of Lambton-funded Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP).
“So, we view this as an opportunity for employers to really look at their business processes and identify perhaps ways that they can become more inclusive.”
That can be as simple as a job posting, making sure it’s attracting applicants from the widest pool, and with the best talent, Meloche said.
“That’s really what we’re hoping to do is strengthen our local employers’ ability to attract top talent,” she said.
The program is called inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) leadership academy.
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There are 100 spots available to access about six hours’ worth of online learning modules, covering how to build spaces for diversity, attract diverse talent, and sustain diversity in the workplace, Meloche said.
People can go at their own pace, she said, noting the program builds on a previous, provincially-funded community connection program for newcomers that also included diversity training for businesses and offered networking opportunities.
Participants from in-person training programs under that initiative said they’d prefer to go at their own pace online, she said.
“We are always looking at ways we can continue to enhance our support to local businesses,” she said, noting offering IDEA training ties in with SLEP’s strategic plan, and with Sarnia-Lambton immigration task force aims to increase immigration locally.
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Immigrants make up about 10 per cent of Sarnia-Lambton’s population, compared to 30 per cent in Ontario, and the community has seen relatively sluggish population growth, task force officials said in 2023.
Meanwhile, it’s been estimated 19,500 people will be needed to fill job vacancies in the community between 2020 and 2030, due to retirements and natural job growth, Meloche said.
Inclusivity is key in making the region an attractive destination for newcomers, SLEP officials said in a news release.
“A diverse workforce promotes innovation, increases competitiveness, and ensures the long-term sustainability of our economy,” partnership CEO Matthew Slotwinski said, in the release.
So far, about a quarter of the spots in the academy, after it launched Tuesday, have been reserved, Meloche said.
“Uptake has been great,” she said, noting no more than two spaces can be reserved for any one organization.
“We wanted to ensure there was equity” in terms of access among local businesses, she said.
Registration is at sarnialambton.on.ca/idea-leadership-academy.
SLEP invested about $7,000 into the programming and into offering free access, and may offer more sign-ups in the future, Meloche said.
“We will certainly explore the future of this program if we feel that the demand has exceeded its limits,” she said.
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