By Jasmine Franklin
There’s no doubt that the last year has been a bust for businesses, but government agencies and a Ponoka organization is offering assistance in both finding the unemployed work, and employers the perfect worker.
“We help people think about their future and career options,” said Michelle Stirling, job search advisor with Ponoka Neighbourhood Place. “We help to do resumes and think of possible solutions.”
In a Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce After Hours meet and greet, an after hours meeting session Nov. 18, pamphlets and information booklets were handed out on various employment information.
Stirling discussed how the employment downfall has hit Ponoka.
“There’s been a lot of impact for people in Ponoka who work in the oil and gas industry, but it can be a good thing,” Stirling said. “They can come back home and make less money but lead a more modest lifestyle. Many people commented that they were making good money but wanted a ‘real life,’ now is their chance to throw themselves into that.”
Stirling said with the new Family Meats, Good 4 U Bakery and The Brick opening in the last five months or so that it’s perhaps a sign smaller communities have innovative strength and stabilization that the bigger communities don’t have during hard economic times.
Multiple strategies and solutions were presented at the meet and greet.
For example, the industry and employer tool kit provides information and websites to connect employers with employees who fit the job.
“It used to be the case a few years ago where there were too many employees. Now there aren’t enough and employers have to deal with decisions of laying people off while still trying to keep the business alive because of the economy,” said Moyra Kennedy, business and industry liaison with Alberta Employment and Immigration. “We’re trying to connect businesses with options and employers.”
Through workshops and presentations, Alberta Employment and Immigration is doing its best to inform all parties of emloyment options and opportunities.
One popular program Kennedy explained is the “work sharing” program which allows staff to stay working as part-time employees while collecting Employment Insurance.
Positive effects however have come of the struggling time Kennedy said.
“It’s given time for employers to clean house and rid of the not-so-productive workers,” she said. “This is the time employers should be taking these sessions to discover how to maintain the valuable workers and how to seek out good workers.”
Though Kennedy said the current situation is a slow recovery from the bust economy, there are still employers looking to find the perfect employee with the skills and trades they desire.
“Although the time right now is challenging, there are still businesses that have to run,” Kennedy said.
For employment information or employee seeking information visit www.alis.alberta.ca To contact Stirling for employment opportunities and guidance within Ponoka contact (403) 783 — 4105.