Northern College wants to hear about your workforce needs

Northern College is reaching out to companies and job seekers for input on future training programs in the areas of healthcare, mining, and forestry.

The Timmins-based college is gathering feedback through an online survey about employment trends and forecasted needs as part of its workforce development strategy. The online survey runs until Dec. 9.

The college is also looking for letters of support from employers that will help Northern with training and development funding proposals.

Through a separate survey, the college is further collecting information from those seeking employment in identifying interests and any barriers to training.

“Northern College is looking to understand learners’ barriers to education and training so that plans can be made to reduce these obstacles,” said college president-CEO Audrey J. Penner in a news release.

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“The healthcare, forestry, and mining sectors are areas of the northeastern Ontario economy that are in demand based upon initial labour market analysis, and a talent pipeline will certainly be needed," she said.

“Sometimes the question is just as important as the answer, and we are looking for specifics on how to best support and serve the workforce needs of the region through listening to their needs."

Northern is asking public agencies for their assistance in tapping into their client base to poll them about any difficulties in finding and keep work.

The college said the information gathered will paint a picture about the potential regional labour force supply, another critical piece of information related to program funding proposals.

“Partnering with and having the support of regional sector employers is essential,” said Christine Heavens, the college's executive director of community, business development and employment services.

“With the pandemic, we recognize, now more than ever, that the world is changing at a rapid pace requiring Northern College to remain fluid and responsive, continually reinventing ourselves to respond to what is needed for the training and development of the workforce."