Chamber & Mohawk College Launch "Now Hiring Hamilton", resources to address hiring, retention challenges for businesses

Hamilton-area businesses facing workforce challenges now have more tools to help them find, hire and retain employees, with the launch of a new series of resources from Now Hiring Hamilton.

Now Hiring Hamilton – a collaboration between the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Mohawk College, Workforce Planning Hamilton and the Economic Development Department of the City of Hamilton – released the final report of its research as well as a series of online resources for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the city. As well, employers will now have access to a library of information and sources to help them modify their HR policies and their onboarding, training and retention strategies.

Led by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Now Hiring Hamilton was established in June 2021 to extensively survey the Hamilton SME landscape to identify the needs, existing resources, and gaps in resources that businesses face – particularly in the context of COVID-19 recovery. That research has been collected and analyzed to produce a comprehensive final report that details the challenges facing SMEs in Hamilton, along with three companion resource guides to help them overcome those workforce challenges.

Key findings detailed in the report, Now Hiring Hamilton: Workforce Development and Retention Strategies for SMEs, include:

Recruitment is challenging for SMEs due to a significant mismatch between jobseeker expectations and what the employer is able to offer.
The high cost of living in Hamilton, and competition among employers to recruit, has created retention challenges as SMEs try to keep wages at pace with inflation.
Jobseekers of younger generations are very interested in how a job can become a career.
The qualified candidate pool is too small, and that those seeking entry-level employment often lack one or more basic skills.
SMEs are missing out on potential candidates because they are not equipped with the tools they need to facilitate inclusive, equitable, and diverse hiring (EDI).

Based on the report’s findings, the three Now Hiring Hamilton Resource Guides were developed: Recruitment & Hiring; Retention & Onboarding Essentials; and Workforce Development Essentials.

This initiative was funded by the Ontario Labour Market Partnership, supported by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

The full report, resource guides and community asset map can be found at www.nowhiringhamilton.ca

Quotes:

“Mohawk College is proud to play a role in Now Hiring Hamilton, helping employers to better understand the workforce landscape,” said Alison Horton, VP Academic at Mohawk College. “Through the college’s involvement in the collection and analysis of the project research, we hope to help small and medium-sized businesses establish practices that will address their workforce challenges and create fulfilling, productive and lasting jobs in Hamilton.”

“The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has stood by businesses since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Marie Nash, Interim CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “We have heard about the challenges they face with recruitment and retention, especially as the workforce changes. The Now Hiring Hamilton project and its resources are a direct line of support for SMEs to help them with their workforce development priorities.”

“Getting people and businesses back on their feet starts by investing in local businesses,” said Deepak Anand, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “Our government is proud to support Now Hiring Hamilton, which will set small-to-medium-sized businesses up for long-term success and boost jobs and prosperity in the region.”

“I commend the partners who have collaborated on the Now Hiring Hamilton initiative,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook. “Our government recognizes that the inability of employers to find the skilled and qualified workers they need is an impediment to our economic recovery. The additional tools being offered to the business community to recruit and retain employees will help to grow the economy in Hamilton and around the Golden Horseshoe.”

ABOUT ONTARIO LABOUR MARKET PARTNERSHIPS (OLMP):

An Ontario Labour Market Partnership is a project funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. The OLMP program provides financial assistance to local communities, sector groups, employee/employer associations, and employers in developing and implementing strategies for addressing and responding to local economic (employment) development, labour force adjustments and human resource planning.

Hamilton Chamber Announces the 2023 Outstanding Business Achievement Award Winners

March 30, 2023 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

March 29, 2023 – HAMILTON, ON: At a gala celebration at Carmen’s Banquet Centre on Wednesday, March 29, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce announced this year’s winning recipients of the annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAA), presented by RBC.

This year’s OBAAs honoured local businesses and organizations for their achievements, business growth, and overall impact on the community.

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Wins Big for Hamilton Day Initiative

March 9, 2023 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

Local Chamber Takes Home Two Festival & Events of Ontario Achievement Awards: Best Promotional Campaign and Best Social Media Campaign

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce we have received two 2023 Festival & Events of Ontario (FEO) Achievement Awards for our local Hamilton Day initiative. Hamilton Day was recognized as an award-winning event in the Best Promotional Campaign and Best Social Media Campaign categories.

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce names Carole MacVicar as Hamilton Citizen of the Year, PJ Mercanti as Hamilton CEO of the Year, and announces business finalists for its Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards

February 8, 2023 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2023 winning recipient of the Hamilton Citizen of the Year Award, the inaugural winner of the new Hamilton CEO of the Year Award, as well as the list of business finalists for its Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAA).

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Opens Applications for Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards & Hamilton Citizen of the Year Award

December 12, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the call is now open for nominations for its annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAA) & Hamilton Citizen of the Year Award.

Businesses may nominate themselves or another business at obaahcc.ca. Applications close Friday, January 20 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The OBAA’s honour local businesses and organizations in Hamilton.

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Releases 2022 Municipal Election Priorities: Ready for Business

September 21, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is proud to release its 2022 Municipal Election Priorities. As Hamilton’s oldest institution at 177 years old, the Chamber has the privilege of advocating for our 1,000+ members that employ over 75,000 people in our community. The Chamber is presenting recommendations herein to further strengthen our local economy.

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Releases 2022 Provincial Election Priorities

June 5, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce submitted its 2022 Provincial Election Priorities to candidates across Hamilton’s provincial electoral ridings.

As Hamilton’s oldest institution, we have the privilege of speaking for our 1,000+ members that employ over 75,000 people in our community. On behalf of our membership, the Chamber presented a suite of policy recommendations to further support and strengthen our local economy for candidates’ consideration.

Hamilton Chamber Announces 2022 Outstanding Business Achievement Award Winners

May 11, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

May 11, 2022 – HAMILTON, ON: At an in-person gala event at Carmen’s Banquet Centre on May 11, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce announced this year’s winning recipients of the annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs) presented by RBC Royal Bank.

This year’s OBAAs honoured local businesses and organizations for their achievements, business growth, and overall impact on the community.

Keanin Loomis Wins Provincial Leadership Award at Ontario Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony

May 1, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

May 1, 2022 – HAMILTON, ON: The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its former President & CEO, Keanin Loomis has been named the winning recipient of the 2022 Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award.

The award was presented in Brampton on Saturday at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting & Conference Gala – an annual gathering for the chamber network to connect, shape our advocacy agenda for the year ahead, and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of our chamber peers.

Canada’s Innovation Corridor Summit Returns to Hamilton Annual Summit on June 29, 2022, will focus on the Transition to Net-Zero

April 20, 2022 · by c.dambrosio@hamiltonchamber.ca

April 20, 2022 – HAMILTON, ON: The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 5th Annual Canada’s Innovation Corridor Summit (CICS) on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, (8 am – 4 pm) at the Royal Botanical Gardens. First held in 2018 in Hamilton, the annual Summit is making a return to address the Transition to Net-Zero.