Huron
Economic Development , Mayors of North Huron and Morris-Turnberry along with
members of the Wingham BIA, Centre for Employment & Learning and Human
Resources representatives from 3 of the larger local employers have been
meeting to try to solve a double edged problem in the area.
Companies
are in dire need of workers and there’s a local shortage. Chris Watson of Huron Economic Development
told the meetings that the Huron, Bruce, Grey, Perth region has an unemployment
rate of just over 3% (lowest in the province).
The rate considered full employment is 5%, taking into account seasonal
workers and those no longer looking for employment. The lack of workers is troubling, but there
is also a lack of housing for workers willing to transfer into the area.
Allison
Letteau of Wescast in Wingham stated that the company is moving work from their
Michigan facility to Wingham. They’ll
require 24 people to staff the line, with still requiring an additional 26
people for their other operating lines for a total of 50 people required. But finding the workers is proving
difficult. The same was echoed by Jennica
Fry of Britespan and Corry Mayberry-Milton of Gay Lea in Teeswater. There are housing initiatives in Blyth, East
Wawanosh and M-T, but they are, for the most part, realistically 2 years from availability.
A short
term solution being investigated is busing workers in either daily or a week at
a time. But again, the housing shortage
precludes the weekly routine. That being
said, those attending the meetings have decided to try developing a database of locations that current residents
would be willing to rent out. If you
have an available house, granny flat, apartment, B&B, Air BnB or are even
willing to take in a boarder, local employers would like to hear about it. The Wingham BIA has developed an online form
where people can register their property.
The information would be forwarded to employers needing accommodation
for workers. The BIA is assisting in
this development, but will not be responsible for the renting as that will be
between the employee and property owner.
It’s not only the larger employers having trouble finding workers. Several storefronts in the area have Help Wanted signs displayed. There’s plenty of opportunity for our region to keep growing and there’s a diverse need of employees. If we work together we can keep the local economy booming.
For job postings at the companies listed above and contact information you can check:
https://www.britespanbuildings.com/about/#careers
http://wescast.com/about/careers/
https://www.gaylea.com/about-us/employment/positions/
