Employment & Training Needs Assessment Study

1. Employment & Training Needs Assessment Study The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce In Partnership with Manitoba Advanced Education & Training

2. Project Goals • Identify Current & Future Employment and Training Opportunities • Identify Employment & Training Challenges • Identify Challenges experienced by the Local Businesses in The Pas & Area

3. Survey / Questionnaire • Approximately 115 Local Businesses were contacted • 80 Questionnaires were completed • Surveys were conducted in an interview format creating dialogue answers for review and data summary

4. Industry Overview • Of The 80 Survey Participants • 41 Involved in Retail • 57 Involved in Service • 7 Involved in Manufacturing • Of the Businesses • 22 Provide Both Retail and Service • 2 Provide Both Service and Manufacturing • 1 Provides Both Retail and Manufacturing

5. Employment • 1372 Full-Time • 396 Part-Time • 87 Casual • 82 Seasonal • Regional Numbers Were Not Reported – 435 Full-Time, 259 Part-Time and 264 Casual employees Although the ratio is high, Full-Time over Part-Time positions, employers did not provide firm numbers when reporting current employment statistics.

6. Future Hiring Trends There will continue to be hiring in all categories to fulfill replacement needs • 18.75% Considering the Need for Additional Employees to Compliment Existing Business or to Accommodate Future Plan for Expansion • Within One Year - 54 to 64 Projected Additional Employment Positions • Within 3 Years - 78 to 87 Projected Additional Employment Positions

7. Future Expansion 81.25% of Local Businesses participating in the Survey are NOT Currently Considering Future Plan for Expansion

8. Minimum Education Requirement • 64% Grade 12 Diploma • In some cases Grade 12 Equivalent • 14% Post Secondary Education and or Experience • Most of the Employment Positions Requiring Less Than Grade 12 Education are Commonly Part-Time and often filled by Students

9. Employment Skills • Strong Work Ethic • Good Interpersonal Skills • Experience with Customer Service • Computer and Technical Experience

10. Employability Skills Desired

11. Concerns with Employing Youth Concerns have been expressed with the youth and the lack of skills demonstrated • Lack of Work Ethic • Lack of Common Sense • Lack of Basic Skills • Numerate and Literate

12. Hiring Trends • 57% Hire Basic Skills • 30% Hire Intermediate Skills • 14% Hire Technical Skills • 4% Hire Management Skills

13. Recruiting • 65% of survey Participants have used the services of Employment Agency • 43% Dissatisfied with Service • Many Employers Interviewed state they would prefer prospective applicants be pre-screened before referral to posted job.

14. Recruiting Methods

15. Recruiting • 27% of Employers Interviewed would prefer to have interested applicants apply for positions on an on-going basis rather than waiting for job postings

16. Recruiting • Employers interviewed have stated • It is difficult to find skilled and knowledgeable workers • Respondents have expressed concern with prospective applicants’ • Presentation for Employment Application and Interview • Lack of Preparedness for Application • Lack of Preparedness for Interview Process

17. Training • 97.5% On The Job Training • 75% Training Seminars and Courses • 28% Classroom Training • 56% Other • 29% Technical • 27% Customer Service MTEC, MB Best • 18% Safety Training • 14% Multi-Media • 7% Self Study

18. Training Costs • 79% of Employers Interviewed Incur the Costs for Training • 11% of Employees Incur the Costs for Training • Including Apprenticeship Programs which may or may not be reimbursed • Training opportunities increase with the size of the company

19. Training • 76% of Employers Provide Job Descriptions to New Hires • Either Formal Written or Informal Approach • 73% of Employers Provide Job Descriptions to Existing Employees • 18.5% Expressed Interest in Assistance with Developing Formal Job Descriptions

20. Customer Service Training 90% of Employers Interviewed Expressed Interest in Sending Their Staff for Customer Service Training

21. Employee Skills Training 87% of Employers Expressed an Interest in Taking Advantage of Skills Training Opportunities

22. Employee Skills Training

23. Business Training Opportunities Of the 67 Respondents • 76% Expressed Interest in Training Opportunities • 21% Stated “No Interest”, “ Not Applicable”

24. Business Skills Training • 29% Business Development • Business Planning, Finance • 21.5% Human Resources • 4% Organizational Management • 4% Computer Training, IT, Advanced Computer Knowledge • Aboriginal Relations • MTEC Programs • GST / PST TAX Information Seminars

25. Participation with Training • Effectively Market the Programs Directly to the Businesses and Interested Participants Outlining the Features and Benefits • Flexible Scheduling is Important • Weekend and Evening Workshops • In House Training Opportunities

26. Business, Computer Training

27. Trades • 46% of Businesses will require the need to hire a skilled tradesperson within the next 3 years Including hiring for contracted work • 21% Automotive Industry • 18% Carpentry • 11% Electrician • 11% Plumbing • 8% Machinist • 5% Pipe-Fitter • 5% Power Engineer, Millwright • 3% Welding

28. Trades Training Opportunities The Need For Skilled Trades Training in our Community include: • 26% Plumbing 24% Electrical • 16% Automotive 14% Welding • 14% Carpentry 6% Machinist • 6% Millwright 4% Water Treatment • Gas Fitter, Pipe Fitter, Cabinet Making, Electrical Engineer, Electronic Engineer, Safety Training

29. Apprenticeship Programs • 29% Participation with Apprenticeship Programs • 10% Expressed Interest in Future Participation • 39% Not Applicable

30. Wage Subsidy Programs • 48% Participation with Wage Subsidy Programs • 11% Stated “It was more trouble than it was worth” • 24% Expressed Interest or Possible interest in Future Participation

31. Employment Challenges

32. 86% of Employers Experiencing Difficulties with Employees • Majority of Employers Interviewed express concern with • Lack of Work Ethic • Lack of Motivation • Lack of Problem Solving Skills • Difficulty with Youth Employees

33. A Skills Gap Between the Employers’ Needs and the Skills of the Labourforce has been revealed. “It is becoming increasingly more difficult to recruit skilled employees and retaining good people once they have been trained.”

34. Retention • 85% of Survey Participants have a Retention Strategy in-place • 81% Wage Increases • 58% Benefits Plan • 57% Bonus Plan • 23% Other Incentive Programs • Bursaries • Profit Share • Employee Equity Plan

35. Recognition & Motivational Practices • 78% of Respondents have Employee Motivational Practices In-Place Including: • Staff Gatherings • Recognition and Acknowledgement • Rewards and Incentive Programs • Bonuses • Profit Sharing • Annual Appreciation • Team Spirit & Teambuilding Workshops

36. Customer Service • Of the 65 Respondents • 94% Currently have Customer Service Retention Strategy In-Place • 45% Good Customer Service • 12% Giving Back to the Community • Quality Business Service and Products • Competitive Pricing • Promotional Programs • Loyalty Programs

37. Manitoba Employment & Training • Many of the Local Businesses Interviewed are not aware of the services provided at the Centre • There is significant interest in further understanding what is offered for supportive Services to the local Businesses

38. 19% of Participants Expressed Concern with Pre-screening Prospective Applicants • 38% Would like to see Skills Enhancement Training • Pre-Employment Coaching • Resume Preparation • Preparing for Interviews • Improved Common Sense Approach to Applying for Employment Positions

39. Promoting Trades as Career Options • Community Based Training • Provide Skills Enhancement Training Opportunities, Essential Skills • Provide Career Coaching and Planning Workshops Cooperative with the Schools • Aboriginal Relations Workshops • Provide Human Resources Workshops for the Local Businesses • “How to Motivate Employees” • Conflict Resolution • Arbitration

40. Employment Concern In General, Survey Participants have Expressed a Concern Regarding the Youth and the Lack of Work Ethic Demonstrated. • Lack Discipline • Expect to be Catered To • Don’t Respect Authority • Lack Numerate and Literate Skills • Cannot Make Change • Don’t Understand the Importance of providing Customers’ Service

41. Chamber of Commerce • 35% of Businesses have little or No Knowledge of what is offered through the Chamber of Commerce • On a positive note, “The Best Chamber experience over many communities to date” has been stated

42. “How do you feel the Chamber of Commerce could be of more Assistance?”

43. Supportive Business Services • Facilitate Training Opportunities • Presentations & Motivational Speakers • Business Planning and Entrepreneurial Programs • Facilitate Youth Entrepreneurial Programs • Networking and Information Resources • Understand the Needs of Local Businesses • Community Calendar – Events Administrator

44. Human Resources Supportive Services & Programs • 19% Facilitate Programs • Human Resources Training • Conflict Resolutions • MTEC Training Opportunities / Hospitality • 17% Motivational Seminars, Self Esteem Building Workshops, Time Management • 13% Youth Programs • Career Planning • Entrepreneurial Training Opportunities • Work Ethic / Skills Enhancement

45. 13% Customer Service Training • 10% Business Development • Strategic Planning • Business Development Programs • Provide Recruitment Service • Recruiting Qualified Employees from Outside Local Area • Resources for Human Resource Development • Information Regarding GST / PST Tax Issue

46. Economic Growth • “Allow Growth” • “Don’t Look Back, take action to develop a new outlook” • “Experience with Local Attitudes is completely different from other communities”

47. Survey Results reveal 30% believe the development of Industry would significantly add value to the business community – “Industry First then Retail will Follow” • 32% believe there is a current need to encourage new businesses specifically – Specialty Shops and Clothing stores

48. Stimulate Economic Growth

49. Community Challenges Identified • Limited Thinking regarding Future Development • Lack of Vision for the Future • Laissez-fair Attitude • Need for Improved Customer Service Standards • Lack Community Pride, Sense of Community • Lack of Commitment to Local Businesses Supporting the Community

50. Potential Opportunities & Strengths • Working Together to Strengthen the Community • Potential for Growth within Diversifying Industries • Abundant Resources • “Quality of Life’ – Healthy Living • Regional Draw – Northern Clientele