Employers in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties continue to struggle with the impact of low unemployment.
EmployerOne surveyed 499 local employers earlier this year who shared their experiences with hiring and separations, hard-to-fill positions, training needs, and recruitment strategies.
Seventy-two percent of employers reported that in 2018, at least one position went unfilled for longer than expected, and 37 per cent of these hard-to-fill positions were vacant for over a year.
An increasing number of employers expanded their search for workers beyond the local area and sought assistance from local Employment Ontario service providers or paid recruitment agencies.
Employers also referred to housing shortages in the area which limit their ability to successfully recruit employees from outside the area.
In the coming year, the Four County Labour Market Planning Board will be focusing on projects concerning employee retention and bridging the gap between potential workers and job vacancies.
"By exploring innovative ways to retain employees, we can assist employers who are confronted with ongoing labour shortages in our region," said Executive Director Gemma Mendez-Smith. "In conversation with employers who are experiencing greater successes with recruitment and retention, we will examine strategies that can be shared and utilized by other employers in our area."
Results from the annual EmployerOne Survey can be viewed by clicking here.
