A strong and committed workforce in Bruce County will support the growth of communities and build a foundation for continued prosperity into the future. On Thursday, October 15, 2020, Bruce County’s Planning and Development Committee endorsed the new Workforce Development and Attraction Strategy, which, over the next five years, will grow and support the local labour force, spur business growth, and advance an inclusive community willing and able to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow.

This new Workforce Development & Attraction Strategy will explore innovative ways of attracting, retaining, and training employees, which will help local businesses and entrepreneurs overcome labour force challenges.

Analysis during the strategy’s creation noted that the region’s available workforce decreased by 10.9% from 2004 to 2016, and that approximately 22,000 people are nearing retirement in the next 5-10 years. These overwhelming numbers in Bruce County’s workforce challenges led to a focused 4-pronged approach: Continuous Data Collection, Attraction, Retention, and Skills Building.

Warden Mitch Twolan added, “Bruce County’s long-term economic success depends on the strength of businesses to attract, retain, and build skills to stay open, expand, and hand over to the next generation. Growth of a dedicated and skilled workforce in our communities is essential.”

The Strategy Document is available on the County website: https://brucecounty.on.ca/business/economic-development

source: media release, Bruce County