CORNWALL, Ontario – Employment service providers have found there are more people in Cornwall and area looking for work.
The Eastern Ontario Training Board has found that the unemployment rate in this region has increased to 8.1 per cent from 7.5 – much of that increase can be attributed to more people now looking for jobs.
“People who may not have pursued employment or who had abandoned the labour force due to perceived lack of opportunity are now entering or re-entering the labour market,” said Diane Soucie, Senior Labour Market Information Analyst for EOTB. “This is a great opportunity to provide these people with the skills they need to land a fulfilling job that will blossom into a career.”
According to data from Statistics Canada, some 22,000 people in Cornwall and South Stormont were not in the labour force. That number dropped to 16,200 – suggesting there is a growing desire among local residents to find work.
EOTB is working with local employers & service providers to assist those people in finding a job. “We assist new labour market entrants & re-entrants who are looking to secure employment,” said Kim Hickey, Project Manager for EOTB. “Employment Services are helping to remove barriers to employment for the almost four out of 10 people choosing not to participate in the labour market.
“We are encouraging employers to consider flexible work arrangements that may attract some groups of individuals to re-enter the labour market – as an example.”
EOTB is also reaching out to local educators, employers and service providers to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities using the newly announced Opportunities Fund.
The Eastern Ontario Training Board is partially funded by Employment Ontario.
