Workforce to Support Growth

There has been an ongoing focus for the WOWC over the past few years on workforce retention and expansion. This has been highlighted in the collaborative regional work through the Western Ontario Workforce Strategy.

Rural Western Ontario requires provincial funding for rural transportation and childcare; these are both critical factors in helping get people to work. There is also a growing and urgent need for health care and social assistance workers in the region, particularly in long-term care.

Projected employment in the health care and social assistance sector in Western Ontario by 2030 is estimated at 82,000 jobs. The health care sector – including long-term care and early childhood education – is expected to have 28,000 jobs that need to be filled between 2020 and 2030.

Furthermore, while immigration is helpful and appreciated, this issue cannot be solved through immigration alone. Additional investments in training and upskilling are required for people already living and housed here in the region.

HEALTH CARE
POSITIONS NEEDED TO FILL
BY 2030
Disabled child in classroom