by Stacy Dunn, Employment Journey Researcher
The end of the first decade of the 21st century is in sight. At the beginning of the 2000s, did you imagine bioscience, information technology, aerospace and renewable energy to emerge as PEI’s hot new industries? On the other hand, did you imagine the economic slump that has affected some sectors on PEI of late?
Workers in these sectors may have to face the real possibility of changing careers or taking a training program to upgrade their skills. The Employment Journey talks with employment assistance agencies all the time to see what’s new in training or job search courses. We even talk with Islanders who have made the move to a new career.
Read Georgetown brothers Gordon and Carter Gotell’s story in our March/April 2009 issue. http://www.employmentjourney.com/archives/EJApr09_7.pdf
It is a challenge that can be overcome. What are your thoughts on changing careers? E-mail us at employ@pei.aibn.com
PEI economy to recover slowly, experts say
Recently, economists with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) said PEI will slowly recover from this current recession. By mid to late 2010, the Island’s economy will grow a modest 1.5 percent and employment will rise 0.7 percent. The bioscience, IT, renewable energy and aerospace sectors will see growth in the global market. The economists say that self employment is strong on PEI – about 13 percent of the Island’s workforce.
APEC President and CEO Elizabeth Beale said her non-governmental organization is in favour of more education and training on PEI. She noted that because 43 percent of adult Islanders do not have sufficient literacy skills, they may face a roadblock to training. This figure is similar to the national average as identified in the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey.
Another surprising number is PEI’s job growth. This province’s growth from July 2008 to July 2009 is higher than the other Atlantic provinces. The Island is considered to be in the “middle of the pack” with respect to job growth among Canadian provinces.
Read economist Jim Follwell’s explanation of job growth in our September/October 2009 issue at http://www.employmentjourney.com/PDF_is ... Sept09.pdf
To learn more about APEC, go to www.apec-econ.ca .
To learn more about literacy, go to www.pei.literacy.ca .
Another Canadian dollar hike hurts PEI business
Although it showed good growth between 2002 and 2006, Charlottetown-based Cabinetmaster Architectural Woodworking Ltd. closed its doors in November. The high Canadian dollar and tough times in the U.S., one of Cabinetmaster’s biggest customers, explain the company’s downturn.
In 2005, Cabinetmaster expanded to a second plant in Charlottetown. A 2,250 square metre plant was built in Montague in 2006. That year, the company reached peak employment at about 105, up from 10 employees at the time the business was acquired in 2002. However, Cabinetmaster was forced to close the Montague plant one year ago and entered 2009 with just 50 employees. Less than 20 remained at the time of the closure.
Find out more at
http://www.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/2009/11 ... lose-doors
Best of PEI closes two stores
The Best of PEI Market and Best of PEI Store closed in late October. The stores had 35 full- and part-time staff members. Co-owner Bev MacArthur cited competition with bigger supermarkets as the reason for the closures. The Best of PEI Market, which opened in June 2008, had a bakery, lunch bar and butcher's counter. The Best of PEI Store on Victoria Row in Charlottetown, which opened in May 2007, featured crafts, music and giftware. The goal of both shops was to sell products made in PEI.
Find out more at http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm? ... &sc=98
Local IT business to boost tourism
Plans are in the works to use a high-tech marketing tool to attract new visitors to PEI. Tourism PEI has partnered with ScreenScape , a leader in Internet-based multi-faceted marketing. ScreenScape-powered screen displays are currently used in venues throughout the world. Visitor Information Centers will be the first to use this technology on PEI.
The company was founded in Charlottetown in 2007 and now has a presence in more than a dozen countries worldwide. It promises to pave the way for a range of innovative and cost-effective marketing initiatives on PEI. In the Visitor Information Centres, screens will alert tourists to events, festivals, local tourism operations and special promotions.
Find out more at [url=http://www.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/2009/11/02/pe-cutting-edge-technology-to-boost-tourism/]www.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/2009/11/02/pe-cutting-edge-technology-to-boost-tourism/[/url]
Home Care Pilot Project extended
The Integrated Palliative Care Program’s Home Care Drug Pilot Project is getting an additional $750,000 to continue cost and delivery coverage. The project, which is for patients who need end of life care, aims to improve access to trained, qualified health care teams.
Staff who are trained in end of life or palliative care work closely with the patient’s family and caregivers. The palliative health care team consists of a pharmacist, nurse, occupational therapist, home support worker, social worker, dietician, physiotherapist, community support worker and hospice volunteers .
Find out more at http://www.gov.pe.ca/news/index.php3?nu ... amp;lang=E
Licensed Practical Nursing Association has a new website
The Licensed Practical Nurses Association of PEI is preparing a new website to help Islanders learn more about the practical nursing profession. Prospects for employment are excellent. The average age of LPNs and RNs is now 44. Within the next 10 years on PEI, about 50 percent of LPNs and RNs are expected to retire.
Find out more at www.lpna.ca .
O’Leary Community Centre upgrade underway
Through the PEI government’s Island Community Fund, the O’Leary Community Centre is receiving upgrades to its plumbing and electrical systems and new insulation, doors and lighting. The province has contributed $38,850 towards the $92,500 project.
The Island Community Fund represents a provincial investment of $27.5 million towards the infrastructure needs of PEI communities. The Island Community Fund is just one component of the over $80 million the province is investing in infrastructure. Read more at
www.gov.pe.ca/news/index.php3?number=news&dept=&newsnumber=6676&lang=E .
Have your say on minimum wage
The Prince Edward Island Employment Standards Board is inviting Islanders to present written submissions for consideration during the annual review of the provincial minimum wage. The minimum wage on PEI increased to $8.40 per hour on October 1. Deadline for written submissions is December 9. Submissions may be sent to Hazel Walsh, Employment Standards Board, PO Box 2000, 161 St. Peter’s Road, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8, by fax to (902) 368-5476 or by e-mail to hawalsh@gov.pe.ca.
More information on employment standards or the Employment Standards Board can be found at www.gov.pe.ca/cca or www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/pdf/e-06_2.pdf
Self employed to get EI benefits
The federal government has introduced the Fairness for the Self Employed Act that will allow the self employed to opt into the federal Employment Insurance plan and collect benefits currently available only to wage-earners and salaried workers.
The new legislation will extend maternity, parental, adoption, medical and compassionate-care benefits to self employed workers. Self employed workers can sign up for the plan beginning January 1, 2010, and can start claiming benefits one year later. Read more at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=493319
New technology to expand product lines at ADL
Amalgamated Dairies Limited has received funding to invest in technology that will expand its product line. The new reverse osmosis equipment will further process whey, a byproduct of cheese making.
Last year, ADL installed equipment that processed whey to produce Whey Protein Concentrate. The new technology to be installed will collect the remaining lactose from the whey, which will then be added to animal feed and other potential products.
ADL is PEI’s largest processor of dairy products. ADL produces nearly seven million kilograms of cheese and generates 50 to 60 million liters of whey per year.
For more on this story, go to http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do;js ... p;nwsb=reg
Souris High School Career Day
Late fall is the time for Career Days for PEI high schools. Souris High School students participating in Career Day include from the top (standing) Emily Townshend, Emily MacDonald, Danielle Mahar, Sasha Bruce, Brittany Peters, Anne Peters (School Counsellor)
Seated: Row 1: Brett Whalen, Marcy Lesperance, Caitlyn Brink
Row 2: Amber Nowlan, Erica Roche , Johna Spencer, Dora Malone
Row 3: Chelsey Acorn, Erika MacDonald, Kaitlin MacIntyre, Danielle Peters
Row 4: Sam Llewellyn
;)
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