Communities in Northern Ontario need immigrants to meet demands and sustain growth

Like many other Northern Ontario communities, Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma district may have a greater potential in the short-term for skilled worker shortages to meet demands in the construction and IT industry.

According to a latest study, massive construction investment in industrial and engineering projects, estimated at over $600 million, need immigrants to meet demands and sustain growth. The two largest communities in the district are the Sault and Elliot Lake will see the majority of construction growth over the next few years, the study found. These areas are experiencing a shortage of skilled trades people. Demand for construction workers looks likely to remain stable for the next three to five years as major projects include a hospital ($289 million), Borealis – a waterfront tourism development ($54 million), as well as multiple commercial buildings, a new young offender facility and a relocation of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans facility. New schools and major renovation to older facilities have also been included as part of the mix. On average, the annual value of building construction fluctuates between $40 and $75 million per year.

The study was commissioned by the district, which asked consultant Hawn & Associates Inc. to analyze human resources issues and challenges for the area's construction industry. Interviews with key stakeholders and focus groups were conducted and supply and demand information, construction project costs, business plans, building permits and employment vacancies and trend were analyzed.

Shortage of skilled IT professionals is another problem that is becoming more common for many of the district’s top employers. Local officials from Sault Ste. Marie say there are opportunities for both youth and experienced individuals. The unprecedented number of IT companies looking to hire in Sault Ste. Marie provides opportunity for students, recent graduates, and IT professionals. With labor-force participation at a fifteen year high and advertised job vacancies tripling over the past five years, employers in many sectors are faced with a shortage of workers for perhaps the first time in history.

Demand is high again for system administrators, operation managers and other IT professionals, while the ongoing boom in mobile technology has necessitated the creation of new types of specialists capable of managing the flow of information over wireless networks.

A quick search on ITSSM.com could show you a dozen local IT opportunities.

Many local graduates have already been able to secure entry-level positions in areas like application development. For more senior positions, initiatives like ITSSM.com’s “Sault Reconnect” program, implemented by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Center, can be used to keep professionals located outside SSM apprised of local IT employment openings and encourage them to move back to the community. There will be ample opportunity for experienced and skilled IT professionals to find work in Sault Ste. Marie over the coming years.