In addition to continuing our regular services to entrepreneurs and the wider community, we are working on two new special projects as our part of implementing the new regional economic development plan. These are labour market development and local procurement promotion.

In our BusinessSurvey in 2011, 30% of businesses noted staffing as their biggest issue.

To date, regional awareness and understanding of, and participation in, the development and implementation of Yukon-wide labour market strategies has been below that required for them to be effective in the region. Programs for employers through the existing Canada-Yukon Labour Market Development Agreement include job creation partnerships, targeted wage subsidies and labour market partnerships but the regional uptake is low.

We have begun work on the development of our first regional labour market development strategy. We are currently working with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Yukon College, Klondike Outreach Employment Services, other community stakeholders, businesses and the Yukon Advanced Education managers responsible for the Labour Market Framework for Yukon, to build general awareness and understanding of the existing mandates, strategies and programs of regional players.

Using this information and a thorough analysis of existing research and statistics, we will develop our first Regional Labour Market Development Strategy, specifically attuned to the needs of the Klondike.

We hope to host the first in a series of public events on this by the end of April.

In the meantime, if you would like to learn more or have some ideas or suggestions on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us.