More Information on Job Opportunities for Nova Scotians

EDUCATION--More Information on Job Opportunities for Nova Scotians

Nova Scotia students who are planning their careers will soon have access to more information about job opportunities in a number of industries including health care, tourism, and home building.

A new agreement between government and industry will also help colleges and universities better prepare students for existing jobs.

The memorandum of understanding between the Association of Industry Sector Councils (AISC), Human Resources Development Canada (N.S. region) and the province of Nova Scotia was signed today, Sept. 15.

Dennis Cochrane, deputy minister of education, signed the agreement on behalf of the province. Education is the lead department on the provincial skills agenda which involves meeting the demands of Nova Scotia's labour market, providing better labour market access and support, and strengthening Nova Scotia's system of lifelong learning opportunities.

"The co-ordinated approach and sharing of resources will strengthen Nova Scotia's ability to address a number of skills- related challenges," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Matching skilled employees with employer demands will make our economy stronger and increase Nova Scotia's ability to compete in the global marketplace."

The agreement will help industry provide information to universities and colleges to train students matching the job opportunities available in the industries represented by the sector councils. Better information will also be provided about the range of jobs available in AISC's nine sector councils including health care, tourism, automotive, and information technology.

"The memorandum of understanding reflects our commitment to a process of joint planning to find better and more comprehensive solutions to the human resources issues of our sectors and for all Nova Scotians", said Mary Kenny, president of the AISC and executive director of the Atlantic Home Building and Renovation Sector Council. "It will provide a basis for more effective partnering in the critical areas of labour market information, skills development and credentialing, and the promotion of career opportunities for our young people."

The memorandum will help make information available to young people so they can make decisions and career choices and will help attract and retain skilled workers in the sector industries. The type of labour market information that will be available includes how many positions exist currently and will exist in the future, which institutions provide training for skilled workers and what additional training may be required to ensure employees are job ready.

Information sharing and joint planning will help narrow the skills gaps in the industries by specifying objectives, activities, outcomes, time frames and the contributions of each of the partners.

Human Resources Development Canada (Nova Scotia Region), a partner to the agreement, has a long working relationship with Nova Scotia's Sector Councils. The memorandum of understanding is in line with Knowledge Matters, which describes a national skills and learning agenda, as the department's component of the Government of Canada's Innovation Strategy.

The Association of Industry Sector Councils of Nova Scotia is an organization of nine councils representing the home building and renovation industry; human resource sectors in the health care, automotive, construction, forestry and trucking industries; information technology; the fisheries sector and the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia.