421 items | 113 visits
Information relating to Economic Development and Workforce in Edmonton.
Updated on Sep 23, 13
Created on Nov 26, 10
Category: Business & Finance
URL:
Introduction to Job Descriptions\n\nincludes information on pay rates by job, sector, etc.
(PDF)
As the economy slowly recovers from the recession, we need to do what is necessary to achieve a solid recovery in the short term and to begin repairing our provincial fiscal situation. But our long-term challenge remains – raising our productivity, which is synonymous with improving our innovation capabilities and performance. Robust innovation results can be achieved through more key business investments and by the right government policies and strategies for innovation.
The Report concludes that businesses need to step up their investments in technology – from R&D to patents to adapting existing technology to their businesses. Equally important is the ongoing need to develop stronger management capabilities in our businesses. The Task Force also recommends that governments improve their innovation polices by shifting their efforts from new-to-the-world inventions to relevant-to-the market innovations.
These are the key conclusions of the Ninth Annual Report, Today’s innovation, tomorrow’s prosperity, released today by the Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress.
he council will look at ways to improve Alberta’s overall economic position and build on work already underway by government and industry. It will also look at the various factors that impact the province’s economic growth such as regulation and fiscal policy, the availability of skilled workers, transportation and infrastructure, and productivity and innovation.
Workforce Expansion and ImprovementThe shortage of skilled workers is unquestionably one of themost important challenges faced by Edmonton industry. Moreover,demographic forecasts indicate that today’s acute labour shortageswill only become worse without strategic initiatives to grow ourworkforce through immigration and increased participation ratesfrom under-employed segments of society. Increased productivityand innovation within organizations are also part of the long-termsolution.EEDC’s Edmonton Workforce Connection program continues tostrategically implement practical initiatives, in conjunction withindustry and other levels of government, to address regionallabour challenges. These initiatives will continue to be focused onbusiness development (primarily through improved productivityand innovation), labour retention and labour attraction.
Workforce DevelopmentThe shortage of skilled workers was unquestionably the mostimportant challenge faced by Edmonton industry in 2008. Inits third year, EEDC’s Edmonton Workforce Connection (EWC)program continued in conjunction with industry and governmentto address regional labour challenges. EWC worked with industrystakeholders, immigrant-serving agencies, the City of Edmonton,educational institutions and Alberta Employment and Immigrationto launch the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council.This organization was created to help address the underemploymentof skilled immigrants in the region.EWC also provided new opportunities for businesses and workersto connect. These included developing the Employers of Choicewebsite to highlight local employers, creating a link to WOWJobs that enabled companies to advertise job opportunities, andconnecting Edmonton employers to university career centresacross Canada.EWC has a new name — EEDC’s Workforce Development Program— and new challenges. The focus of the program will be optimizingthe labour force to address a growing skills shortage that isdriven by an aging population, competition, innovation and newtechnologies. Alberta employers are reassessing their needs andthe future of their businesses in light of the economic slowdown.EEDC will continue to need blue and white-collar workers who areemployed to their maximum capacity to rebuild the economy.
Productivity & InnovationIn 2008, EEDC made a strategic decision to be a leader inpromoting greater productivity through innovation in the Edmontonregion.In collaboration with the province and cities across Alberta, EEDChosted Innovative Manufacturing Works tours in Edmontonin October 2008. Thirty industry representatives visited threeEdmonton-area manufacturers, which are focused on continuallyrefining their processes to achieve peak efficiency. Events such asthese improve public awareness of the capability of local industryand encourage other firms to adopt better processes to achieveglobal competitiveness.EEDC als
WorkforceEEDC’s workforce development program continued forits fourth year in 2009. With industry, education andgovernment partners, EEDC addressed regional labourchallenges and helped to plan for anticipated increases in thedemand for skilled labour in 2010. The program supportedthe Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council, whichhelps immigrants gain experience working in Canada andprovides tools to help them find meaningful employment.Workforce development created opportunities for businessesand workers to connect through its enhanced web presenceat edmonton.com. The site informs employees aboutliving, working and educational opportunities in Edmonton.Employers were connected with programs designed toassist under-employed and unemployed segments of thelocal workforce. To address higher rates of unemployment,information was provided on how to access employmentopportunities in the Edmonton region.
Productivity & Innovation
Productivity improvements within the Edmonton regioncontinue to be a major focus for EEDC. Manufacturersand producers are experiencing increased internationalcompetition. With partners including the Government ofAlberta, we offer industry the opportunity to reviewbusiness processes, product improvements, evaluatenew markets, reinvent business models and explore newtechnological innovations.EEDC was actively involved in producing Reaching NewMarkets, a seminar that provided insights into new waysof growing business during challenging times. As part of aleadership development series, EEDC sponsored At the Speedof Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey at the Shaw ConferenceCentre in June. EEDC co-ordinated two best practicesmissions to Ontario in which corporate participants wereexposed to world-class manufacturers that have made greatstrides in productivity improvements.EEDC supported the heavy oil industry’s National Buyer/SellerForum, which attracted 650 delegates from around the world,providing local companies the opportunity to sell into theindustry’s multibillion-dollar supply chain. The Energ
421 items | 113 visits
Information relating to Economic Development and Workforce in Edmonton.
Updated on Sep 23, 13
Created on Nov 26, 10
Category: Business & Finance
URL: