News release

Nova Scotians, Business Ready for Opportunities

Labour and Advanced Education (Jan. 2011 - Aug. 2021)

Nova Scotian business owners and employees are getting the boost they need to sharpen their skills and prepare for the good jobs that are coming.

Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More met with business owners and employees in Sydney today, Oct. 17, to launch free tools that will help employers and employees prepare for some of the most exciting opportunities in the province's history.

"Nova Scotians want good jobs for themselves and their children," said Ms. More. "They want to live and work in a province that has a strong economy and a promising future so they have the confidence to build a life here.

"The world is changing, and Nova Scotia is changing with it. People are working hard to make the most of opportunities on the horizon, and these tools will help them do that."

The HR Toolkit, SkillsOnlineNS and Welcoming Workplaces are a $1.5-million investment in Nova Scotias workers and businesses.

The HR Toolkit is a free, online resource that helps employers recruit, develop and motivate staff. Employers can access information on how to create a diverse job description or advertisement, ideas on how to find and keep workers, and manage a diverse workforce. There are downloadable guides and templates, and access to programs like the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.

"As a business operator, I want to be sure that the HR practices I have in place are current and best of breed, that my employees' needs are fulfilled to the best of our abilities, and that the people I hire are the best fit for the rewarding jobs we offer here at AG Research," said Pierre LaRochelle, chief operating officer with AG Research Ltd.

"These last few months, I have actively looked for online HR support. The new HR Toolkit is timely and will ensure I am following the right processes and doing what is best for my employees and my business here in Nova Scotia."

SkillsonlineNS promotes learning in the workplace with quick and easy access to thousands of online courses, from Microsoft Office, to the fundamentals of globalization. The courses include things like 15 minute tutorials on how to work with Generation Y, or how to be a good coach. The two-year pilot project aims to help Nova Scotias workers and businesses more easily get the skills and training they need.

"In the past, time away from work for training was very expensive and usually only a few employees had the benefit of traditional training," said Paul Jamieson with Maritect Investigations and Security Ltd. "Now our employees will have more opportunities for learning through advanced education sources in areas that influence their jobs.

"The available information has also assisted myself and my management team. We have a better grasp on today's talent pool and selecting the right people to assist my ever growing business."

Welcoming Workplaces helps employers engage and retain a more diverse and productive workforce. A free, online workbook with practical advice and strategies will help employers make workplaces more inclusive and welcoming through methods such as making diversity part of strategic business goals and reworking hiring procedures to be more inclusive. It also helps employers be more fair and understanding with diverse groups such as visible minorities, immigrants and persons with disabilities.

"When employees feel supported and valued when they are at work, they are more motivated to do a better job," said Ms. More. "An investment in this province's workers is an investment in the long-term prosperity and success of Nova Scotias businesses."

For more information about the HR Toolkit, Online Learning Lab and Welcoming Workplaces visit www.business.novascotia.ca .