Theme EC 3: Labour Market Development

Theme Statement

Kingston’s labour market offers, attracts, and retains skilled, employable talent for fulfilling jobs with safe working conditions, a living wage, and a satisfying lifestyle.

Indicators

Employment by occupation (Distribution of the labour force by occupation type - percent of labour force).

Goals

Develop labour market strategies to support and assist local employers seeking to connect with potential employees, retain graduates from our institutions (Queen’s University, Royal Military College of Canada, St. Lawrence College), grow and retain skilled trades-people, and attract qualified employees to our city.
Improve and grow the local economy through labour market initiatives designed to facilitate current business expansion and new business attraction.
Attract and retain graduates, migrants, new immigrants, and skilled professionals, retiring armed forces personnel, alumni, general labourers, and trades.
Provide a diversity of jobs with fair wages and safe working conditions.
Support the adaptation of the labour work force to new employment opportunities.

Actions

Action	Action Lead	Target	Status
Sustainable Energy Applied Research Centre (SEARC)	St. Lawrence College	Provide applied research services to Eastern Ontario SMEs in the renewable energy industry.	Ongoing
Bridging Programs Bridging programs for International educated professionals.	Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP)	To help immigrants that need their credentials to be recognised and skills to be upgraded before entering the workforce.	Established Nurse Bridging Program (Ongoing), potentially develop new bridging programs.
Increase collaboration within Employment sector Through further collaboration we can build a better support system for immigrants (looking for work or in the workforce) and the employers.	Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP)	Kingston Employment sector (service providers such as KEYS, KEDCO and ACFOMI) and Employers, big and small.	- Ongoing KIP Employers Working group meetings - Ongoing training and Information sessions - Annual Diversity Works Conference for International Educated Professionals (IEP) Seminars and workshops
Local History and Family Research The Central Library houses the Kingston Genealogical Society’s collection of books, papers and family trees. This, along with the library’s rich history collection attracts genealogists and researchers to the city. The library serves as one more component in a critical mass of attractions that draw visitors to Kingston.	Kingston Frontenac Public Library	To help with family research.	Ongoing
Job Search and Business Support Professional librarians assist the public with information on companies and potential employers, job search strategies, on-line databases, and resume writing.	Kingston Frontenac Public Library	To help with job search and business support.	Ongoing
Mentoring Partnership The Mentoring Partnership includes three different approaches to connecting skilled immigrants with local professionals in similar occupations: Professional Mentoring, The Connector Program and Career Speed Networking Session.	KEYS Job Centre d'emploi	- The goal of the Mentoring Partnership is to assist skilled immigrants in attaining meaningful employment in the occupation in which they are trained. The program will help them to expand their professional networks and will provide exposure to the local job market and Canadian workplace culture. - Our target is 30 professional mentoring matches per year, in addition to Connector matches and three speed networking events each year.	Ongoing
Coordinate Efforts Between Governments, Institutions and Private Companies - Attract businesses from in and outside the area. - Upgrade existing jobs. Stimulate investment. - Bring new products to the market.	New Energy Project	As much as possible for businesses, NGO’s, NFP’s, residents and governments in and outside the KFL&A area.	Ongoing
Development/Initiatives to Retain Graduates - Build experiential education programs to help students gain experience and increase awareness of local employment opportunities. - Provide increased exposure for local employers to promote on campus, build profile and develop relationships with students. - Target efforts to highlight the live and work features of the City to help students feel more a part of the community, as well as to retain students during the summer and following graduation. - Develop workplace learning program that will be incorporated into curriculum and provide further opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom.	Kingston Economic Development Corporation	To increase exposure of local employers to students while they are studying with the intention of building relationships and retaining graduates.	Ongoing