16 Responses to Chatham-Kent Employer Workforce Survey results are in

1. 

   Brandon

   August 12, 2011 at 10:16 am

   I’m curious how they chose these “target clusters”. I was disappointed in finding out one industry that wasn’t listed was Information Technology. There is a growing number of educated individuals in the IT field and it’s an area that Chatham-Kent seems to have no interest in addressing. I even sent a message asking about this to the Workforce team and received no response.

   I think the survey is a great idea but I think Chatham-Kent is missing out on a lot of potential by ignoring other industries that are growing exponentially throughout North America. IT has the potential to bring in very large companies and employ our young educated individuals that are leaving the community never to return simply because they can’t put their new educations to use here.
2. 

   Keri Banar

   August 12, 2011 at 12:32 pm

   Hi Brandon…I apologize for not getting back to you about your question. I did not receive your email and am looking into that. The “target clusters” were selected through collaboration with the Economic Development, discussions with the Board and the Steering committee. The IT field and services offered by these professionals are covered under the Business Support cluster. This definitely is an industry that we are focusing on. I appreciate your comment and welcome any feedback.
   • 

     Rob

     August 12, 2011 at 1:20 pm

     It looks like there needs to be more clarity.

     While you could conceivably break down categories till the cows come home, IT is not a good fit for the category “Business Support”, but should in fact itself be a cluster.

     Understanding your targets is important, and I think the survey suggests that maybe we don’t fully understand what IT is, and more importantly, what it will be.

     This is not a beef I’m voicing, it’s just a concern. Businesses, governments – often make the same mistake in properly identifying what this field encompasses.
   • 

     Brandon

     August 12, 2011 at 1:34 pm

     Hi Keri,
     Thanks for the reply! Glad to see people in the municipality communicating with the public like this. I agree with Rob that its a bit confusing having IT lumped into the Business Support category, but I’m definitely happy to see that it’s an industry you’re looking at.
3. 

   Question

   August 12, 2011 at 10:00 pm

   I’m sorry, I’ve read the “results” of this survey and much of it does not confuse or suprise me, nor do I see how these statistics will be of any benefit moving forward to develop healthy and sustainable industry in our community.

   As Brandon stated, the need does not rest in many of the “target clusters,” but rather in an information and technology sector or other burgeoning industries, something, as Rob alluded to, is incorrectly defined under Business Support. Did I need a survey to tell me that companies in the Business Support sector required computer skills? No. The findings, unless they’re unpublished in greater depth elsewhere, can’t possibly lead us to a better local economy.

   We need a way to attract youth, particularly our own youth who leave our region and do not return. Until we lure companies which regularly offer a large number of entry level, white collar positions to new graduates, with the chance for advancement, other companies who offer a small number of similar positions will struggle with, as the results stated, an “education/skills mismatch” and a limited number of qualified workers.

   We are not living in an age where you can define “computer skills” as a “specific” competency. Many would consider knowing how to use Microsoft Word as having computer skills, when most 15 year olds in fact are more computer competant than in all likelihood, the bulk of our current workforce.

   It’s all fine and dandy to have three strategic planning sessions to set out a strategy, but who and how will we carry out this strategy upon its completion?

   It all comes back to what Brandon said, we lag behind because we lose our young educated individuals because they can’t put their skills to use here. It’s obvious the “Business Support” positions aren’t of the genre these individuals are looking for.

   Here’s my idea. Instead of asking local businesses why they can’t find qualified workers, ask the qualified workers why they can’t find qualified businesses in Chatham-Kent.
   • 

     Rob

     August 13, 2011 at 1:36 am

     Quoting Question: “The findings, unless they’re unpublished in greater depth elsewhere, can’t possibly lead us to a better local economy.”

     The linked article at http://ckworkforcedev.com/2011/08/the-survey-results-are-in%E2%80%A6/ states that “More detailed findings of this employer-based, workforce survey will be included in a comprehensive workforce report, to be released later this year.”

     I don’t understand your ire with the people conducting this study.

     Here is my question about your comment, and it refers to this statement made by you:

     Until we lure companies which regularly offer a large number of entry level, white collar positions to new graduates, with the chance for advancement, other companies who offer a small number of similar positions will struggle with, as the results stated, an “education/skills mismatch” and a limited number of qualified workers.

     It appears you are suggesting that if we just bring in a large company regularly offering a large number of entry level, white collar positions… hiring new graduates… with the chance for advancement… … … … our other companies who offer a small number of these same positions will then be able to solve the skills mismatch problem – presumably because our young people will stay (or others will relocate).

     So…. who is going to work at this large company we just brought in who regularly needs a large number of….?

     I am the owner of a big tech company. I’m Mr. RIM looking to relocate.

     Can I really come to CK? Don’t you see any problems with that plan? C’mon, Kathy Weiss knows the boys at RIM… don’t you think she asked them to send a little something our way – or would have if she didn’t know they’d laugh her out of the room?

     All the truth was in your words “We need a way”.

     We left all our eggs in one basket for too long, which has created a very bad chicken and egg situation. We are also branded a union town – so those who might put our available workforce back to work are in no big hurry to come here. We have insufficient educated/skilled workforce for the companies we still do have – how can any company of the size you’re talking about make the kind of investment they’d need to make to set up shop here… hoping a skilled workforce would magically appear. They need people from day one!

     But alas Mr. RIM is having his own difficulties these days, so Rim is a bad example. (BlackBerry maker announced it will lay off 2,000 people.)

     This expectation people have of our Economic Development department to pull big companies in here is completely unrealistic. I’m pretty sure we’re in a “start over from scratch” position… not a “let’s pull in our next big company” position. So instead of pining for big-corp to move on in, and blaming “The Municipality” for “Not Doing Their Jobs”, let’s focus on learning how to re-build our economy, and plan for our (real) future taking reasonable steps.

     I’m pretty sure that’s what this survey is at least in part, about doing.
     • 

       ChanMac

       August 15, 2011 at 10:13 am

       I completely agree with Rob here, and I think your RIM example was an interesting choice. When we traditionally think of “tech” RIM is a natural fit. But I think that what Brandon is saying is that IT and tech are so much more now. We don’t have to attract a RIM here – and as Rob said, we can’t… CK will not be the next Waterloo, that’s a foolish goal and one I’m glad Ec Dev isn’t trying to achieve.

       But IT isn’t business support either, as Question stated. We have IT companies here already in a capacity: TechSavvy, Potensia, Scribendi, I would even argue Union Gas is now very much a part of the tech industry. We have application developers here – has anyone heard of Moonlight Audio Theatre? Coincidentally, they developed one of the very first BlackBerry podcasting apps right here in Chatham (and the best part is their developers are probably twice as old as I am… tech isn’t just a young person’s field )

       Tech is a major part of every field now, it can’t be ignored and needs to be addressed regardless of how Chatham-Kent plans to move forward. The first step is better understanding what sort of “tech” we want / have / can support and attract here – Medical, like Michael C mentioned? Green energy? Agricultural?

       Before we start over from scratch let’s look at what’s working here, why, and what other smaller, similar companies are here that we could support to grow. I moved here specifically for a job in a tech related field, so it’s not like it’s impossible to attract and retain an educated workforce. Why attract one big company when we could grow 20 smaller ones to create a more sustainable job market?
       • 

         Rob

         August 15, 2011 at 10:29 am

         I think you’re describing what I meant by “starting over from scratch”. I also just mean we are largely based on manufacturing, so we need to reinvent ourselves.

         I picked RIM for several reasons which you probably picked up on. I’m sure Question never meant something like RIM… but the fact is that smaller, similar companies cluster around the big ones – for many obvious reasons.

         And – you’re quite right about “IT” – and that’s what Brandon and I were going after. IT touches everything – actually leads in many things now… think military – it’s a huge one, but missiles etc. don’t jump to mind when someone says “IT”.
4. 

   Michael C

   August 13, 2011 at 10:07 am

   Interesting stuff, and I applaud the municipality for doing this.

   The following is the view from and “old fart” who used to be in business.

   The “new” industries that are employing the college graduates with IT degrees are not coming to C-K, nor are they likely to come to C-K. They go where other similar industries are. Why? because that is where they come from, where the work force is, and where the capital is. Those areas are in large, metropolitan, modern thinking, accepting, university cities. C-K is not one of those places.

   The few industries we have in this field are here by accident, not design. They are here, for instance, because a couple move here for one partner to take a job, in say the health care field, and the other partner cannot find work, so makes their own. They also come from people who grew up here and want the sleepy lifestyle that is C-K (not the majority)

   This area has a couple of things that it has going for it, and a couple of negatives. The negatives are that a large proportion of the area pop. used to work in labour intensive manufacturing, that used to require no education. That has gone, and is not coming back, certainly not to an area that has a reputation for union militancy. That work can be done offshore at a fraction of the cost. The other major disincentive, is that it has little to offer in lifestyle choices that young people want. It may be beautiful in an agricultural way, but it has no soaring mountain ranges or wilderness that attract adventurous youth.

   On the positive side, it has a very successful agriculture sector, and it has a bunch of old folks like me, who, incidentally, are not well known for their healthy lifestyle. Couple this with cheap housing in a depressed market, and you have a certain attraction for some people.

   We should IMHO be looking at training our young people in the health care field, and the high tech positions that are now part of that, and we should be looking for, and encouraging innovative value added agricultural business.

   We are just a few hours away from a huge number of people, and we should be looking at putting food on their table.

   If we can also give them some things to do with their spare time, then that is an added bonus. We really do not market our area tourist attractions very well. We should be a must visit place for African Americans who want to discover their heritage for instance. We have what they want, but I wonder how many people who have read “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” know that the inspiration for that book is right here.

   I never hear what is happening at N Buxton to celebrate their rich heritage, and other than Emancipation Day, I never hear about Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

   Cross posted at http://ckworkforcedev.com
5. 

   Keri Banar

   August 15, 2011 at 1:49 pm

   WOW…I am loving all the great comments and feedback. I encourage you to keep it up and to please continue to check the Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board’s website and Facebook page for updates.

   To answer a few comments, yes a more detailed breakdown of the survey and primary research data is going to be shared with the community later this year. In fact I am reviewing a draft of it today.

   Part of any successful strategy is a roll out and implementation plan, in addition to that, how is it going to be monitored and measured. That is part of what the strategic planning sessions are going to include.

   I find the dialogue about the IT or technical industry very interesting. Information Technology can take on many, many forms. In its purest form we do have the RIM’s, Googles and Apples of the world. However, in CK I have found through the research that all companies have indicated a shift in the way they operate and require more skill sets in the Information Technology world. In these examples the IT industry is therefore a support to their primary business. For the purpose of the project and to gather information to develop a strategy we targeted IT companies in CK and classified them under Business Support Companies.

   Please feel free to contact me with any further comments. I truly appreciate the input and suggestions.
6. 

   Survey says ......

   August 15, 2011 at 9:20 pm

   These studies are a complete waste of time and money if they are not acted on.Businesses like the ones we would wish to attract need to see an advantage if they locate here,they have their own agenda and we have to compliment them.

   Consultants and surveys will only bring our goals to fruition unless we have the Political Will(Municipal,Provincial,Federal)needed to follow through and put up some incentives to get this area targeted for investment.Connections have to be made and the necessary footwork for promoting this area to potential investors is crucial.

   The old ways of doing things to attract companies and the jobs that accompany them has changed,they are looking for new ways to add to their bottom line.With all the competition for employment what do we have to offer that can get their attention and investment?We need to think out of the box not get trapped in it.
7. 

   Zipper

   August 16, 2011 at 6:47 am

   A few days ago there was a article in the London Free Press on job creation. On that panel they had a member of the CAW. The CAW has probably been more responsible for the destruction of jobs than any other cause.
   Who would allow them to sit on a panel, it is beyond belief.
8. 

   pg

   August 16, 2011 at 11:04 am

   Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but I’m a little surprised that a workforce survey designed to gain insight and assist local and potential businesses only had a 20% response rate? Not sure who the researcher was on this one but to draw conclusions on less than a quarter of workplaces seems worrisome on the surface. I hope the companies that did respond were in fact larger operations so some results could be generalized. Perhaps this smells of poor research design?
   • 

     Keri Banar

     August 16, 2011 at 1:55 pm

     Again I would like to thank everyone for their comments about this important initiative. The purpose of this survey was to understand the array of challenges facing businesses in Chatham-Kent, not to draw specific inferences. Given the resources available to conduct the survey, the research team was very pleased with the 20% response rate. For surveys in other communities, the response rate from businesses on similar mail-back surveys has typically been around 10-15%. Fortunately, the total number of responses that we received was a large enough number to provide key insights about community workforce trends. In addition, we are combining this information with business focus group and one-on-one conversations to develop even more in-depth information about the most important workforce trends. Please keep checking back to our website for further information about the project, it will be shared as it becomes available. As always, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.
     • 

       pg

       August 16, 2011 at 3:31 pm

       Great this was just part of something more. It’s surprising how response rates in those areas can be considered “good”. I hope you find reliable insights that can assist the community in acheiving much needed improvements.
   • 

     Tom McCarthy

     August 16, 2011 at 5:00 pm

     20% is an excellent response rate and more than sufficient from which to draw statistically significant conclusions. Check your introductory stats textbook.