We were very interested in the recent labour market forecast for the NWT. That’s because the NWT Literacy Council exists to promote and support the skills that enable NWT residents to participate fully in work, community, and families.
Because of our mandate, experience and expertise we were part of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Skills 4 Success initiative – an effort to help NWT residents achieve job success, ensure there are skilled northerners to fill northern jobs, and respond to employer, industry, and community needs.
The recent Conference Board of Canada research - Northwest Territories Labour Market Forecast and Needs Assessment provides us all with important information to reach those goals.
The key findings can help non-government organizations, government, industry, students, job seekers, and residents of the NWT to better understand the long-term employment outlook for the NWT for the next 15 years. And, they will help us all understand what needs to be done to meet employment needs. Here are the key findings.
- Taking a conservative view, the territory’s economic outlook is not particularly bright, given that we depend so much on resource development. Since there will be few new jobs in this scenario, there is a need to ‘help nurture new economic sectors.’
- However, a more optimistic view is that global demand for metals and strategic investment in infrastructure could create new jobs, particularly in mining and construction.
- There will be few new jobs created; most jobs will be the result of workers retiring or leaving the territory.
- NWT residents lack basic workforce skills, as well as skills for new economic opportunities.
- Almost 60% of the job openings forecast in the next 15 years will require a university or college education, or skill-specific training, like an apprenticeship.
- At present, 63.8% of NWT residents aged 16 to 65 have literacy skills below the level needed for employment in today’s world. (That number is 82.4% for Aboriginal people.) The skill development disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents are significant.
- The Conference Board concludes that more research is needed in the area of labour market inequalities. Approximately 20% of job openings in the future will be management positions. Yet women, Aboriginal people and workers born in the NWT are currently under-represented in management. In terms of income inequality, non-aboriginal men tend to have the highest incomes.
There is much to be done to ensure that our young people have the education and skills to get jobs. But, it’s not only about education and skills training. Educational success also depends on adequate housing and secure food, as well as mental, emotional, and physical health.
Our work to re-engage youth in learning and our work with Aurora College on short courses that embed literacy and essential skills are part of this picture. But as the Conference Board study shows, there is much more work to be done. We look forward to working with others to enrich the future economic and social prospects for NWT residents.
-- Kathryn Barry Paddock
