CME partners with government to address skills gap
April 17, 2014
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) recently announced a series of initiatives, in partnership with the Government of Canada, to help narrow the nation’s skills gap. Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney and CME president and CEO Jayson Myers made the announcement at the Siemens Ruggedcom plant in Concord, Ont., on April 12.
“Nearly 50 per cent of manufacturers face labour shortages, which is having a significant impact on economic output and undermining long-term performance,” Myers said of the initiatives that will fall under the Manufacturing Skills Centre, a private sector-led initiative that examines skills and labour shortages and works in close partnership with stakeholders to find solutions to address identified challenges. “Competitiveness is all about people — skilled people — and the CME’s Manufacturing Skills Centre will ensure that our Canadian companies can match the right skills for their needs.”
The projects include Skills Lab, an online initiative to open discussion on challenges, successes and policies related to training the manufacturing workforce; Technical Awareness Commitment Engagement and Alternative Careers (TACE), a job referral service to connect internationally trained engineers, technicians and technologists with positions; CertWORK Plus, a program that functions on the prior learning educational premise that workers with skills but no certification can provide a portfolio and assessment to receive their deserved certification; and a labour market information program aimed at identifying and addressing regional skills shortages, training programs and providing networking opportunities to share best practices learned through the research program.
“Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. By supporting these projects, we are helping more Canadians put their skills to work,” Minister Kenney said.
More information on the programs can be found at www.manufacturingskills.ca.
Source: CME
