Research and Reports
Each year, AWIC’s research serves as a basis for us and our community partners to identify and prioritize labour market challenges and opportunities in the Algoma District and its surrounding areas.
2022-2023 Reports
High School Career Outlook Report
The range of topics covered by the survey, including plans after graduation, career interests, career planning, job skills, and job market knowledge, are all important areas that can provide valuable information to help guide students’ career paths and inform local workforce development initiatives.
By collecting this information, local schools and organizations can tailor their career development programs and services to better meet the needs of students and help them prepare for successful careers in the future. Additionally, the survey results can also provide insights into potential skills gaps and areas where additional training or education may be necessary to meet the demands of the local job market.
We want to hear from you – Submit your feedback on the report here.
Breaking Down Barriers : Identifying barriers to employment for unemployed persons in Algoma
Barriers to employment can take many forms, ranging from systemic discrimination to practical issues like lack of transportation or family responsibilities. For individuals facing these challenges, finding and maintaining employment can be an uphill battle.
In order to address these issues, it’s important to understand the root causes of unemployment and identify the specific barriers that are preventing people from entering or remaining in the workforce. By shining a light on these obstacles, we can work to eliminate them and create a more level playing field for job seekers.
This report offers valuable insights into the factors that contribute to unemployment and provides recommendations for breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of meaningful employment. Ultimately, this work has the potential to benefit both individuals seeking work and employers looking to expand their labour pool, leading to a stronger and more inclusive economy for all.
We want to hear from you – Submit your feedback on the report here.
Algoma’s Healthcare Workforce Report
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the lives of Canadians and the industries in which they work. The healthcare and social assistance sector has been under immense pressure due to increased hospitalizations, the demand for services, and unprecedented job vacancies during the pandemic and the post-pandemic.
This report aims to present the data collected from healthcare employers and organizations across Algoma that highlight the primary workforce issues impacting the sector and identify possible solutions.
This survey is a follow-up to the one conducted for Algoma’s Healthcare Workforce Report published in Spring 2018.
We want to hear from you – Submit your feedback on the report here.
2023 Local Labour Market Planning Report (LLMP)- Algoma
As we reflect on 2022 and our current labour market trends, we are in excess demand, where the economy’s need for labour exceeds its ability to supply it. The unemployment rate in October and December 2022 hit record lows, and while that seems like a good thing, it is not sustainable.
One of the most significant causes of concern for many employers this year was a labour shortage, which made it challenging to maintain existing service levels or operations, let alone expand. Perhaps the most significant long-term impact of the COVID crisis will be the acceleration of trends already affecting Algoma’s labour market. Those being an ageing workforce, technological advancement and the changing nature of employment.
We want to hear from you – Submit your feedback on the report here.
2023 Dollars and Sense – A guide to employer training credits, incentives, and supports
Dollars and Sense is a guide to help employers easily find and access a wide range of incentives and programs to help employers to offset the costs associated with hiring and training new employees, apprentices, students and more—see which programs you’re eligible for and how they can benefit you as an employer.
We want to hear from you – Submit your feedback on the guide here.
2021-2022 Reports
Dollars and Sense – A guide to employer training credits, incentives, and supports
This guide is meant to show that there are many tax credits, wage incentives, programs, and resources available to help employers make their workplaces more efficient, productive and cost-effective.
The purpose of this report is to identify the benefits and risks associated with remote work for both employers and employees while also determining which occupations in Algoma can be done remotely.
Overall, the findings in the report suggest that, for Algoma, remote work may not be the radical change many predicted at the onset of COVID-19. This is largely due to the relatively low proportion of occupations in the region that can be entirely executed remotely due to their physical nature (nursing, tradespeople, etc.).
2022 Local Labour Market Planning Report
Certainly, all sectors of Algoma’s Labour Market were impacted immediately, but the hardest hit were Tourism, Accommodations, Small Retailers, and Restaurants. AWIC conducted a series of Employer Impact surveys throughout the past 2 years and initially, 40% of Algoma’s workforce was laid-off. Thankfully government support programs cushioned the impact for both employees and employers.
The greatest cause of concern for many employers in this year was a shortage of labour which made it a challenge to maintain existing levels of service or operations, let alone expansion. Perhaps the greatest long-term impacts of the COVID crisis will be the acceleration of trends that were already having an impact on Algoma’s labour market – an aging workforce, technological advancement, and the changing nature of employment.
2021 Algoma ICT and Tech Workforce Survey
This is a summary of survey results of Algoma ICT (Information Communication Technology) and Technology employers conducted by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation (AWIC) and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC).
The results revealed that the struggle for local technology talent continues and that finding applicants with appropriate work experience remains a challenge. The survey validates that the opportunity for local youth to consider an ICT career continues to be an excellent choice.
AWIC 2021 COVID-19 Support Programs
This report is a summary of the current support programs in place to assist Canadians and businesses facing hardship as the result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
It is an up date list of Federal and Provincial programs to help businesses recover costs for personal protective equipment and providing extra support for businesses required to close or significantly restrict services as a result of provincial public health measures.
2020-2021 Reports
2021 Regional LLMP Report
This report provides an overview of Local Labour Markets in each region of Algoma – East Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie and Superior East.
2021 Local Labour Market Planning Report
2020 was a year like no other. As a global phenomenon, COVID-19 disrupted lives and economies around the world, to the extent that people everywhere experienced many of the same challenges. However, the extent of the impact varied by locality, including the impact on Algoma’s local labour markets.
COVID-19 Impact on Students and the Young Workforce
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the labour market not only in terms of employment and operations, but in a way that will leave lasting effects on the current generation of young workers and youth just entering the workforce.
2020 Local Labour Market Planning Report
Algoma’s Labour Market is constantly changing and evolving. It is important to identify the trends which have an impact on our local labour markets and recognize how they will continue to affect Algoma’s workforce. This report looks at the trends having the biggest impacts on Algoma’s local labour markets in 2019.
2019-2020 Reports
2019 EmployerOne Survey Results
The EmployerOne Survey is an annual online survey focused on the demand side of the local labour market in our region. Employers throughout the Algoma District were asked to participate in the survey in order to compile data on workforce issues on a range of workforce issues including projected vacancies, hiring plans, recruitment strategies and challenges, and their views on candidate skills and future business plans.
Algoma’s in Demand Skilled Trades
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview on Algoma’s in-demand skilled trades and the trends that are having an impact. We hope that readers find the information relevant and applicable in the current context of our rapidly changing labour market. We are confident that this report will help students, parents, teachers, school administration, government and employers understand the importance of the skill trades and the issues that need to be addressed.
Algoma’s Skilled Trades – Review of OCoT Data
The EmployerOne Survey is an annual online survey focused on the demand side of the local labour market in our region. Employers throughout the Algoma District were asked to participate in the survey in order to compile data on workforce issues on a range of workforce issues including projected vacancies, hiring plans, recruitment strategies and challenges, and their views on candidate skills and future business plans.
2019 Local Labour Market Planning Report
Algoma’s Labour Market is constantly changing and evolving. It is important to identify the trends which have an impact on our local labour markets and recognize how they will continue to affect Algoma’s workforce. This report looks at the trends having the biggest impacts on Algoma’s local labour markets in 2019.
Action Plan NE LHIN Task Force on the PSW Workforce
This Action Plan highlights a need for action through Collaboration and Innovation initiatives, along with a focus on improving Working Conditions and Compensation. These are the two main priority areas identified by the Task Force in response to its mandate to identify tactics to help mitigate challenges within the retention, recruitment, and overall sustainability of the PSW workforce in the North East LHIN region.
The need for a formal oversight and coordination structure is to be highlighted as third priority area, in order to support the implementation of the Action Plan.
2018-2019 Reports
2018 Algoma’s Health Care Workforce
The demand for health care services shows no signs of slowing down in Algoma. Unfortunately, the data shows that the human resources will not be available to provide these services. With the rapid growth of the sector, there will be tremendous opportunities for individuals to enter the health care workforce.
This report was meant to highlight existing workforce issues that health care
organizations around Algoma are currently experiencing and identify some possible solutions for
addressing them. By means of this report, AWIC will share the information with community partners to communicate the growing needs of the health care sector.