Province, Sector Councils Partner to Support Nova Scotia Industry

Nova Scotia's sector councils and the province are starting a new partnership to more strongly support Nova Scotia industry with human resource strategies.

The strategies will address skills development and workforce challenges for the businesses they represent.

"We have tremendous opportunities for our workforce at the same time that we have a demographic challenge," said Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. "There's never been a more critical time for us to build stronger partnerships with groups that can help Nova Scotia industry and businesses overcome those challenges and take advantage of the great opportunities ahead."

Sector councils are non-profit, industry-led partnership organizations that help address skills development and HR issues in their industries.

There are eight sector councils in Nova Scotia, including the Nova Scotia Construction and Health Care Human Resource sector councils. There are also sector council-like organizations, such as the Aerospace and Defense Industry Association, that represent industry and have an HR focus, but typically have a much broader scope.

The province will provide $2 million per year over three years to the program. The councils and council-like groups can apply for funding by submitting a three-year strategic plan outlining how the money will be used to support HR needs within the industry. The emphasis will be on setting realistic, attainable goals and accountability.

"The new program sets the bar high for all of us," said Lisa Anderson, president, Association of Industry Sector Councils. "But we know too that the stakes are high. We need to work together to ensure Nova Scotia workplaces can adapt and thrive amidst a quickly changing workforce reality."

The sector council program is a an initiative of Nova Scotia's workforce strategy, a key part of jobsHere.

For program guidelines to access funding, visit http://nsworkplaceeducation.ca/apply/forms-and-templates/ .