Some of Nova Scotia’s largest employers are making a cross-Canada pilgrimage to recruit former maritimers and other job-seekers for positions back home.
Skilled Labour
Nova Scotia employers make their way across Canada, looking to recruit skilled workers
Some of Nova Scotia’s largest employers are making a cross-country pilgrimage to recruit former residents and other job-seekers for positions in the Maritimes.
Opportunities Nova Scotia is hosting a networking event in Edmonton today, showcasing available positions and establish and maintain connections with potential employees.
The traveling recruitment show has already made contact with hundreds of job seekers during stops in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto and Mississauga on its way west.
“We are trying to bring skilled people back home at all levels,” said Paul MacDonald, Director of Human Resources and Safety with Dexter Construction. The full service heavy civil contractor is looking for heavy equipment operators, heavy equipment mechanics and superintendents, among other positions.
“If I can find one person in a certain area, this trip is a success,” MacDonald said during a telephone interview from Calgary.
“Five years ago, people had to go away to get the skills and work they needed and wanted. And now they want to come back home.”
Dexter is looking for long- and short-term workers — those who can hit the ground running and others who are willing to be trained.
“There is so much recruitment going on out there, we are looking for non-traditional ways of doing things,” he said, explaining why Dexter, with an existing payroll of 1,300 people, signed on with the caravan.
“We’re expecting an average of nearly 13,000 new job openings annually over the next five years, and we want to get out there and tell Canadians about them,” said Premier Rodney MacDonald.
“By bringing together some of Nova Scotia’s top businesses, which are prepared to win employees in a very competitive climate, we can demonstrate the strength of our economy and show that there are high-quality jobs available right now in Nova Scotia.”
A virtual recruitment campaign has been created to accompany the networking events, giving expatriates and other job-seekers living across the country and in Nova Scotia the chance to connect with employers online.
“Nova Scotians no longer have to settle for less when they move back to the province. Employers recognize we need to offer comparable salaries, benefits and working conditions, and we’re prepared to go the extra mile to recruit talented employees,” said Don Rankin, director of human resources for EastLink. “The quality of life in Nova Scotia has always been exceptional. Now we’re closing the gap to make it more financially appealing to work here as well.”
DCN News Services
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