‘Powered by People’ Will Bring Together Employers, Service Providers & Jobseekers to Fight the War on Talent

April 24, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAINT JOHN, NB – It is no secret that there is a war on talent, and building a skilled workforce is the most pressing issue facing employers today. Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency, in collaboration with WorkingNB, Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB), and the Saint John Region Chamber are presenting a unique one-day event that will create connections for employers, services providers, and jobseekers in the Saint John Region.

Powered By People aims to bring together the people, programs, post-secondary institutions, government partners, and variety of public and private services available to move the region’s talent ecosystem forward.

“Envision Saint John has identified employer readiness as a main area of focus in our talent strategy. By empowering employers to react and plan for the demands of the current employment market, we can collectively create a shift in our region’s workforce,” explained Heather Libbey, Vice-President at Envision Saint John.

Designed for CEOs, COOs, Business Owners, Human Resource leaders, and People Managers – the symposium will provide actionable solutions to the most pressing talent problems facing employers.

Since 2020, the Saint John Region labour force has grown by 500 people, but the number of job vacancies has more than doubled – increasing by 1,160. There are currently 3,040 job openings in the region across a wide range of sectors.

This unique opportunity will create winning conditions for all – attendees will learn from businesses with successful talent strategies, and organizations who offer tangible solutions. The multi-feature event includes:

• Keynote address from recognized workforce development and organizational effectiveness expert, Tanya Chapman.

• Panel discussions that focus on concrete solutions to access the untapped labour force, including:
   

   

  • The changes employers can make to expand who and how they recruit.

  • How to develop a workforce pipeline to fill current and future positions.

     

• A Workforce Marketplace for employers to connect directly with public services like WorkingNB and ImmigrationNB, as well as businesses specializing in HR and immigration, and academia to offer workforce development solutions.
• An afternoon Career Fair for local talent to connect with hiring businesses.

Registration details are available online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/powered-by-people-tickets-622009345697

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Quotes:
 

“WorkingNB’s tailored and flexible programs help employers address recruitment and retention issues by supporting them with their HR and training needs. As WorkingNB and our partners continue to foster a thriving labour market, this collaborative event will provide an opportunity for employers to develop strategies by connecting with resources that are available to them.”

– Mike Quinn, Regional Director, WorkingNB, Southwest Region

“We work with employers every day to help address their workforce needs and to ensure that they have access to skilled talent, which is crucial for New Brunswick companies of every size. Attracting newcomers to our province is a fundamental component of building a talent pipeline and a driver for population and economic growth in our province. What’s more important is retention and this is where we see the gaps. We look forward to continuing to work with employers, newcomers, the respective settlement agencies, and multicultural associations in finding improved and innovative ways to increase our retention rates, a big component of which is supporting the connection to meaningful employment and increasing our respective efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

– Arlene Dunn, Minister responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick

“Our members constantly tell us that human resources and talent is the number one challenge they face, and it’s the biggest barrier to their growth. This event will help employers to better understand best practices on developing a pipeline, and how to successfully recruit and retain people. We need to leverage the power of our people and
this multi-feature event will showcase how we can do that.”

– David Duplisea, CEO, The Saint John Region Chamber

 

MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Nicole Vair
Marketing & Communication Manager, Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency
[email protected]
(506) 658-2877 ext.105