News Release Archive
ECONOMIC RENEWAL--NS WORKS-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
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The Nova Scotia government will partner with business,
municipalities and non-profit organizations to create
seasonal work in high unemployment areas of the province,
Economic Renewal Minister Robbie Harrison announced in the
Legislature today.
The winter employment program will see about 625 people go
to work in jobs created by the private sector, municipal
governments and non-profit organizations.
Under the direction of the Economic Renewal Agency, Nova
Scotia Works will provide employment for 325 people in ares
of high unemployment, including Victoria, Richmond,
Inverness, Digby, Guysborough and Cape Breton counties.
Another 300 jobs will be added by the Nova Scotia Department
of Housing and Consumer Affairs. The housing jobs will be
distributed province-wide, giving first priority to those
six counties.
"While 9,000 more people are working now as compared to this
time last year, there are still areas of the province
suffering from high unemployment," Mr. Harrison said. "Nova
Scotia Works will give people in those areas an opportunity
to get back into the workforce."
The Economic Renewal Agency will provide a 50 per cent wage
subsidy to employers who create job opportunities between
Jan. 15 and May 4, 1996. ERA will contribute $1 million to
help create all 625 jobs. The ERA funding will help lever
another $1.6 million from the private sector and municipal
governments.
Through local employment resource centres, the Nova Scotia
Department of Community Services will help employers
identify potential employees, including social assistance
recipients and unemployed workers who are not eligible for
unemployment insurance and do not qualify for TAGS.
"Our objective is to develop good prospects for long term
employment during the winter months," said Mr. Harrison. "We
recognize that certain areas of the province need and
deserve special attention and that's why we're concentrating
on the regions with the highest unemployment rates."
Under the Nova Scotia Works program, jobs will be allocated
based on the unemployment rate and the population of each
county. The unemployment rate around the province ranges
from 24.6 per cent in Victoria County to 7.9 per cent in
Halifax County. The six counties participating in Nova
Scotia Works all have unemployment rates over 15 per cent.
Application forms for employers are available at any of the
Economic Renewal Agency's Business Service Centres, Access
Nova Scotia Centres, or at any Canada Employment Centre.
Once the projects are selected, jobs will be posted at the
local employment centres.
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Contact: Linda Laffin 902-424-6810
trp Dec. 01, 1995