By Jeff Henson

Strategy for attracting and retaining future workers to region is unveiled

Apr 22, 2022 | 8:13 AM

A collaborative workforce development strategy for the Grande Prairie and Greenview regions has been released.

Two years of research went into the formation of this strategy.

Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce chair Tertius Genus says the project was a collaborative effort on the part of the chamber, the city, the County of Grande Prairie, M-D of Greenview, Northwestern Polytechnic, and Alberta Labour and Immigration.

“This research actually started pre-COVID, and it was with the aim to address chronic talent shortages in our area. And it was also there to avoid further impediment of sustainable business growth and delaying the progress of a viable economy. In short, it was basically research that was looking at workforce development for our region.”

Genus adds a number of challenges were identified as a part of the research.

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“The shift and evolving economy, the shortage of skilled labour, but also just labour shortages in general, and then recruitment and retention challenges. As well, there is a need for a coordinated approach among the partners.”

Moving forward, Genus says representatives from the six partner groups will continue to work together under the Regional Workforce Development Partnership.

“Such as formalizing and strengthening the existing partnership among them. Attract and retain talent to support for local businesses, and both partnerships and collaboration to support that attraction and retention of skilled talent, as well as develop and train them.”

Genus says they also need to work on promoting how the Grande Prairie and Greenview regions are great places to both live and work in.