Welcoming newcomers, one project at a time
Rural communities need workers, but finding, developing and retaining them can be difficult. College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is working to change that.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre (NLWIC), along with the Future Skills Centre, has two projects underway aimed at addressing employment issues unique to rural areas.
The first project is the Employer-led Workforce Development Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening the mining industry in Baie Verte, NL, through implementation of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) model designed by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Aleksandra Stefanovic-Chafe, Faculty Researcher with NLWIC, has been evaluating the project since 2023.
“My role, as part of the NLWIC team, is conducting a developmental evaluation of the project. This means there is an ongoing evaluation where we are providing real-time feedback to support effective implementation within the local context and helping shape this model as it is being applied here in the province for the first time.”
The Baie Verte Peninsula was chosen because of its growing mining sector.
“The Employer-led Workforce Development Project is an exciting and innovative pilot that uses demand-driven approach and puts employers in the driver’s seat to create local talent pipelines for sectors with high demand for skilled workers,” she said.
This project came about after NLWIC discovered increased reports of a missing link between the skills that were needed by employers and the skills of the job seekers.
“Through our evaluation of this pilot, we hope to identify what worked and what could be improved or adjusted to better reflect our local context. We also hope that this model can be part of larger efforts toward more sustainable talent solutions for rural and remote regions where labour pool is limited.”
The team gained valuable insights into both the unique workforce challenges facing rural communities and the opportunities to support economic development.
“This project also helped us better understand the opportunities and challenges rural regions experience when it comes to meeting their workforce needs. Finally, as an organization, through projects like these and the evaluation that we apply to every innovative approach, we always collect information and insights to help us identify and develop new and better opportunities for workforce innovation and economic development in the province.”
While the Employer-led Workforce Development Project focused on helping employers find and develop the workers they need, another NLWIC project examined what happens after newcomers arrive in rural communities.
The second project, Welcoming Communities Project based out of CNA’s Burin Campus, aims to create inclusive environments for newcomers.
Building a future for rural workers and newcomers
Oyewole Oladapo, Policy, Planning & Research Analyst with NLWIC, works full-time on the Welcoming Communities Project, funded by the Future Skills Centre.
“The goal of the project is to understand the reasons behind the low newcomer retention experience in the Burin Peninsula region and to develop an innovative and sustainable integration model to help with newcomer retention,” he explains.
For newcomers settling in rural communities, he says finding employment is often just one part of the challenge.
“Newcomers face the same major challenges that everyone in the region faces: a lack of public transportation, limited access to healthcare services, and a housing shortage. The challenges that are particular to newcomers include limited access to newcomer services, low opportunity for career mobility, and being too far away from everything.”
The project also highlighted the need for stronger supports to help newcomers settle and build connections within the community.
“The Burin Peninsula communities are quite open and welcoming to immigrants, and they invest a lot of efforts in helping them settle in the region. That is why it is always painful for them when immigrants leave after a few years of settling there,” he says. “Through the contributions of the project, we hope to see a region where community members’ investments in making the region welcoming to immigrants pay off.
Looking ahead, the project’s vision extends beyond just attracting newcomers to the Burin Peninsula.
“We would like to see a Burin Peninsula where immigrants settle long-term and build their lives. We want the status of the region to change from a place where newcomers head simply to get permanent residence status and then relocate to major cities or another province. We also hope to see a region where immigrants can fulfill their potential and build a meaningful life comparable to what is attainable in other parts of the country.
Together, the two projects demonstrate how innovative, community-focused approaches can help address some of the workforce challenges facing rural Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information visit Employer-Led Workforce Development Project – Newfoundland & Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre.
