Businesses Face Shortage of Young Employees
Businesses Face Shortage of Young Employees
Businesses Face Shortage of Young Employees
According to a recent survey, Canadian executives say one of their biggest challenges is finding young workers. Industries like education, hospitality, agriculture and manufacturing are facing the biggest difficulties finding young workers. It is important for young workers to reflect on the transferable skills gained from education and other life experiences outside of direct work experience. Many “soft skills,” such as a positive attitude and good communication are very desirable in the workplace and become transferable, and employers train student workers in the technical skills needed. Organizations have begun to put in place career management programs to help train the employees, for example, Shopify, an e-commerce company has put in place a program called Dev Degree. It is a work-integrated learning experience where participants receive free tuition, a salary and a full-time role after graduation. Companies have also been attracting workers through flexible working arrangements, such as remote work or freelance. The government of Ontario is also providing additional funding and encouraging opportunities for young workers, by creating programs for underrepresented groups from all walks of life to help them gain experience. Ontario is a great place for young workers seeking opportunities and wanting to learn new skills in the workplace, while also being able to transfer skills from their educational or other experiences.