The Workforce Collective Podcast

When we think of education, most of us think of schools, but do we also think of a certain age? Lifelong learning is exactly how it sounds. The pursuit of education and training for life. Tune in to this insightful podcast as we sit with Rachel Crane, learning and engagement lead for Workforce Collective and executive director at Literacy Link Niagara as we dive into our recent brief surrounding the education sector as well as the importance of adult education, lifelong learning, and programs that are helping break the barriers to continued education in our community.

Like many sectors, Canada's healthcare system faces staffing shortages and employee recruitment and retention challenges. These challenges were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside increased demand for healthcare, with an agin population, and many healthcare workers reaching retirement age. Tune into this insight filled episode as we hear from Workforce Collective's Research and Project Lead, Thalia Semplonius, about the healthcare sector and what's really going on. We're discussing who makes up the sector, what challenges they're facing, and what needs to be done in order for this vital sector to work at it's full potential, shorten wait times, and relieve hard workers of critical stress!

All of us, no matter where we live in Ontario, are connecting with non-profits whether we realize it or not. The sector provides essential services, health support, employment development, shelter and help for those in need and so much more. Despite the increased need for help from this sector, funding is on a downward spiral. This is causing high levels of burnout and organizations are facing an unsustainable state of operation. Tune in to this super insightful episode as we sit with Pamela Uppal-Sandhu from Ontario Non-Profit Network as we take a deep dive into what's going on, why it's happening and what needs to change to keep this ever so important sector working at full potential.

Canada's new immigration levels plan aims to invite more newcomers now than previous years with up to almost one and a half million newcomers by 2025! With countless barriers to employment newcomers face as early as the hiring process, accessing this much needed talent won't be easy unless these biases are addressed and changed. Tune in to this episode as we discuss how systemic biases present themselves and where they might be hiding in your workplace, why newcomer talent is currently so valuable, and how you as an employer can make a change today, regardless of your level of intercultural intelligence!

The Canada wide Early Learning and Childcare policy amplifies the need for accessible childcare for all. The issue is Canada's ELCC workforce is in crisis. With an average 50% occupancy rate already falling short, the demand that will emerge from this type of policy will not be able to be met unless changes are made to the ELCC system. Tune in to this insightful episode as we discuss challenges ECEs face, possible solutions to better the ELCC workforce, and why high-quality early learning childcare is essential to not only the little humans that are the future of our world, but to economic recovery and our communities as a whole.

Canada’s workforce growth is stagnating, and immigration is expected to account for nearly 100% of growth in the coming years. Having a diverse workforce has always benefitted employers but it’s even more so now. We’re helping employers not only understand the benefits of accessing newcomer talent, but helping them connect, hire and understand the needs of newcomers with the all new Employer & Resource Navigation Service. In this informative episode of The Workforce Collective Podcast, we hear from our newest team member, Jamie Miller, the steps employers take to begin this process, as well as the benefits hiring newcomers has brought Niagara Casinos from Vice President of HR, Colleen Falco.

In today's job market, we're facing what feels like a war for talent. With the reevaluation of work life balance brought about by the pandemic, employees (and possible employees) are reconsidering what's important to them. To keep up with these changes, employers are facing increasing pressure to improve their workplace culture in order to attract and retain this desperately needed talent. Join us as we speak with our very own Strategy Lead and CEO, Vivian Kinnaird about how exactly DO employers better their workplace culture, what resources are available to them, why it's so important and how these changes look for us at Workforce Collective as we too implement these ever so valuable changes.

In this episode you'll hear from three youths of Workforce Collective's content creation team, Justin Godfrey, data analyst and content creator, Natalie Heighway, research assistant and content creator, and myself, Kaleb Meeks, videographer and content creator. We’ll be discussing youth employment trends, how to attract and retain youth, our youth employment navigation stories and the old myth “youth just don’t want to work”.

In this episode you'll hear from Workforce Collective's Learning and Engagement Lead, Rachel Crane, and myself, Kaleb Meeks, videographer and content creator. We're discussing human centered design, what exactly is a design lab, design thinking, and what it takes to be a great designer.

In this episode you'll hear from Workforce Collective's Content Creator and Videographer, Kaleb Meeks, as well as Research and Project Lead, Thalia Semplonius. We're discussing employment trends surrounding women, barriers to/in employment and how employers might support these barriers to help better our economy as a whole.

In this episode you'll hear more about our organization's mission from content creator Kaleb Meeks, as well as learning and engagement lead, Rachel Crane. We'll discuss our re-branding, inclusivity in our team, and the importance of collaborative, community focused work.

In our first episode, we'll introduce you to Workforce Collective and let you know what this podcast is all about!