The future of rural businesses and communities is dependent on appropriate and effective workforce development strategies. Rural businesses and communities are confronted with challenges in accessing relevant human capital to support, maintain, and grow their operations. Without deliberate and place-based strategies, rural businesses and rural economies will be negatively impacted.
Researchers at the University of Guelph and Selkirk College are interested in enhancing our understanding of innovative rural workforce strategies, plans, and policies to address current and future labour gaps. To understand the experiences and dynamics taking place in Ontario we asked business supporting organizations and work force planning organizations from across the province to share insights on labour force dynamics from their communities and regions.
Building on labour force and workforce development themes from local newspapers and academic literature, an online survey was circulated to all Community Futures Development Corporations and Workforce Planning Boards in Ontario. The survey asked business supporting organizations and workforce planning organizations to gauge their insights on the impact of COVID-19, the types of business supports or resources provided by organizations, and any potential innovative rural workforce strategies and policies. The online survey was circulated to executive directors, or similar positions, in all 26 Workforce Planning Boards and all 71 Community Futures Development Cooperations in Ontario. The survey received a response rate of 30%.
Key messages emerging from the survey: