New Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation a collaborative approach to urgent workforce challenges

A consortium of partners led by Ryerson University is pleased to announce a new Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation (OCWI). The initiative is funded by a $7.5 million grant over two years from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The OCWI will offer a single, coordinated access point for research on evidence-based employment and training approaches for key stakeholders in Ontario. Recent studies point to an urgent need to recalibrate employment service systems to better align with employer demands and needs. The Centre is bringing together partners across the workforce development ecosystem to bridge supply and demand side perspectives and reflect diverse interests. 

The Centre’s overarching goals are to address employer needs for talent and Ontario’s most urgent workforce development challenges related to underemployment and unemployment. 

In addition, the OCWI will both conduct research and develop innovative projects and approaches to help address Ontario’s labour market needs.                                                                                                                                                               

The initiative brings together leading employment organizations, academia and business associations that are committed to building employment capacity using the latest evidence-based approaches. The partners include: the Ontario Chamber of Commerce; the Workforce Planning Ontario Network; Humber College, Collège Boréal, Ontario Disability Employment Network, Social Capital Partners, George Brown College, COFA (Coalition for Adult Training in Ontario), Ryerson University, Lakehead University and Brock University. 

To ensure broad support and inclusivity across Ontario the Centre will operate four hubs — North (Thunder Bay), East (Ganonoque/Kingston), Central (Toronto) and West (London). The hubs will be interconnected in their sharing of best practices and work together to mobilize communities toward more effective practices. There will also be a Francophone coordinating centre in Sudbury. 

“The Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation brings together key organizations who have the potential to transform the way in which we address the demand for talent by employers on the one hand and the unemployment and under employment of job seekers on the other.” says Wendy Cukier, Vice President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University and Chair of the OCWI Working Group. 

“These issues are particularly challenging in some regions and for some segments of the population. By building on solid research, bringing together the shared wisdom of players from across sectors and rigorously examining opportunities for new and effective approaches, we can find solutions to one of the most challenging issues facing the province. We are delighted to be part of this important initiative and are confident it will drive economic and social development.”

According to Ontario Chamber of Commerce CEO, Allan O’Dette, research shows almost one-third of small businesses in Ontario do not have the talent they need.“Ontario’s economy is facing a labour force challenge. There are far too many people without jobs and far too many employers in need of people with the right skills. Building a 21st century workforce is a key priority area of our Emerging Stronger agenda, which focuses on fostering greater connections between graduates and employers to ensure Ontario has the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy.”

OWCI has a tight timeline and work has already begun to build the basic infrastructure, to review the current state of research, to consult widely on the opportunities and promising practices and to develop the regional hubs.

For more information visit: www.ocwi-coie.ca