Ontario Works 2019-2020 Service Plan - County of Simcoe
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Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 1
Ontario Works 2019-2020
Service Plan
June 2019
Social and Community Services Division 1110 Highway 26,
Midhurst, Ontario L9X 1N6
Main Line (705) 722-3132
Toll Free 1-866-893-9300
Fax (705) 722-4720
simcoe.caSchedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 2
OW Service Plan 2019-2020
Table of Contents
Ontario Works Vision and Mandate........................................................................................................ 3
Section 1: Environmental Scan .............................................................................................................. 8
Section 2: Strategies and Outcomes .................................................................................................... 22
Section 3: Program Management ........................................................................................................ 26
Section 4: Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 37
SOS-042-C01 PAGE 2 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 3
Ontario Works Vision and Mandate
Executive Summary
All Ontario Works delivery agents share the same vision and mandate.
Vision
To achieve improved employment outcomes for Ontario Works participants by increasing individual
employment with the goal of sustainable employment and increased financial independence.
Mandate
To provide employment assistance and financial assistance to people in financial need. The Ontario
Works program:
recognizes individual responsibility and promotes self-reliance through employment;
provides financial assistance to those most in need while they meet obligations to become
and stay employed;
effectively serves people needing assistance; and
is accountable to the taxpayers of Ontario.
The County of Simcoe Ontario Works Service Plan has been written in accordance with Ministry of
Children Community and Social Service (MCCSS) expectations as outlined in the Ontario Works 2019-
2020 Service Plan template. The Service Plan provides an overview of programs and services that are
available to individuals who are in receipt of Ontario Works assistance, aimed at improving employment
outcomes for people who are relying on social assistance by providing effective, integrated supports that
help individuals prepare for, find and maintain employment. The Service Plan further provides details
regarding community engagement relating to program development, best practices, service
collaboration, and information regarding labour market trends. Ontario Works further supports the goal
of helping people move towards employment by linking planning and achievement of two measured
employment outcomes:
Employment: helping people find and keep jobs; and
Earnings: helping people achieve financial independence.
Through achievement of the above measured outcomes, Ontario Works offers strategies for
increasing employability through a host of programs and services that provide a holistic approach to
income and employment services geared to achieving the following:
help participants in the development of relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes;
motivate participants to demonstrate individual responsibility for goal attainment;
assist participants in accessing, appropriate supports such as child care, affordable and
sustainable housing, transportation and health services; and
move participants along the employment continuum and provide access to
community involvement.
The County of Simcoe continues to be committed to a modern, stream-lined, and cost-
effective social assistance system that treats the vulnerable population staff serve, with
PAGE 3 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 4
fairness and dignity, while ensuring relevant and integrated employment supports assist with
the preparing for, finding, and maintain suitable and adequate employment.
The Ontario Works caseload for the County of Simcoe has experienced ongoing decline since
2012. As evidenced in the chart below, which represents the Ontario Works average monthly
caseload for the County of Simcoe including the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia, the average
monthly caseload has experienced an overall reduction of 2,499 cases between 2012 and 2018,
representing a 32.4% overall caseload decrease.
In a year over year comparison from 2017 to 2018, the total number of Ontario Works cases
recorded in Simcoe County in 2017 compared to 2018, including Temporary Care cases,
reflected a decrease from 5,656 in 2017 to 5,211 in 2018; an overall decrease of 7.82%.
On a monthly basis, the Ontario Works caseload in 2018 demonstrated a moderate overall decrease,
however, approximately half of the months did experience slight increases. Historically, in 2016 and
2017, significant decreases were experienced across all months. When comparing monthly totals
between 2017 and 2018, the caseloads observed were between 6.1% and 10.8% lower than the levels
recorded in similar months in 2017.
Caseloads have yet to reach pre-recession levels of 4,584, the total Ontario Works caseload in
2008. However, with caseloads continuing to decrease, opportunities expand to support
participants in moving forward with meaningful and sustainable employment. Ontario Works
Caseworkers and Employment Services Workers are able to focus more intensely on the
individual and maximize collaboration to support participants’ successful transition to
employment through a combination of financial supports and employment assistance activities.
It should be noted that since November 2018, the caseload has increased moderately, which
could likely be attributed to a growing population, and the end of seasonal part-time
employment in Simcoe County.
Ontario Works Caseload 2012-2018*
YEAR Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Mthly
Avg
2012 7,710
7,749 7,887 8,033 7,924 7,939 7,830 7,634 7,649 7,507 7,392 7,516 7,463
2013 7,480
7,660 7,672 7,685 7,775 7,787 7,591 7,359 7,286 7,254 7,177 7,205 7,314
2014 7,405
7,520 7,522 7,606 7,687 7,735 7,609 7,432 7,309 7,182 7,032 7,059 7,166
2015 7,278
7,216 7,221 7,353 7,461 7,461 7,400 7,364 7,371 7,290 7,151 7,007 7,041
2016 6,483
6,910 6,902 6,946 6,859 6,746 6,639 6,425 6,232 6,264 5,993 5,923 5,954
2017 5,656
5,942 5,909 5,967 5,874 5,815 5,678 5,547 5,488 5,415 5,316 5,454 5,471
2018 5,211
5,300 5,362 5,363 5,366 5,386 5,280 5,106 5,109 5,085 4,984 5,054 5,136
2017 vs
-7.82%
2018 -10.80% -9.26% -10.12% -8.65% -7.38% -7.01% -7.95% -6.91% -6.09% -6.25% -7.33% -6.12%
2018
Mthly -3.13% 1.17% 0.02% 0.06% 0.37% -1.97% -3.30% 0.06% -0.47% -1.99% 1.40% 1.62% -0.51%
+/-
*A case refers to a single individual or a family unit on social assistance (e.g. a family on social assistance is counted as one case)
Source: Statistics and Analysis Unit, MCSS. Social Assistance Management System, Ontario Works Caseload at a Glance,
2012-2018.
SOS-042-C01 PAGE 4 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 5 Service Enhancements Partnerships and linkages between Ontario Works and community-based services and organizations continue to grow, and increasingly creative, responsive and relevant programs and services emerge to meet the needs of participants. Community partnerships and relationships continue to be invaluable resources to assist Ontario Works participants toward employability. In 2018, initial conversations began in relation to the establishment of a service hub in the Ontario Works office located on the 4th floor at 136 Bayfield Street in Barrie. This office, located in the downtown urban core, serves Barrie and surrounding areas and provides service to more than 50% of the total caseload within the County of Simcoe. Many individuals in receipt of social assistance are living with significant mental health and addictions challenges, in addition to experiencing poverty and homelessness. Proportionately, the Barrie location serves a higher number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness than other Ontario Works satellite offices. Additionally, a greater number of individuals with active mental health and/or addiction challenges are served through this location. Although strong partnerships and referral protocols exist with community partner organizations, it is anticipated that establishing an on-site service hub will further enhance service access points for Ontario Works clients by facilitating ‘just-in-time’ access to a variety of community based supports. A targeted reach out to specific community agencies is planned for the end of June 2019. Representation from agencies serving vulnerable populations is being sought including representation from organizations serving: youth; persons experiencing homelessness; persons living with mental health challenges and; individuals experiencing addiction. Additionally, the importance of securing representation from programs within the County of Simcoe is being considered, specifically Housing Retention Services, Social Housing and Housing Programs. This targeted communication will introduce the service hub concept and extend an invitation for an in person meeting in September 2019. This meeting will facilitate dialogue and information sharing among all community partners including Ontario Works as to the services provided by each organization in order to avoid duplication and ensure the most fulsome access to services is established. Feedback will be solicited from community partner organizations in order to develop a schedule to best meet the needs of all participants. Although go-live for the service hub is identified as January 2020, it is anticipated that this initiative can be actualized by late fall 2019. County Council approved two new Ontario Works office construction projects in both the Towns of Collingwood and Midland. These offices are scheduled to open with full operations in July and October 2019 respectively. The Ontario Works office in Collingwood will be co-located with several agencies to form a Service HUB. By partnering and sharing space with the County School Board (Adult Education Programs), Simcoe Community Services and having community offices for partners to use on an as needed basis, will allow collaboration that is timely, client-focused, and most importantly provide wrap-around supports for Ontario Works recipients and applicants. Furthermore, the Ontario Works office is located on the main floor of a new County of Simcoe affordable housing building. In collaboration with our real-estate department and the Town of Midland, an environmental scan determined the only appropriate and available location for a new office is within the Mountainview Mall that is situated on the main street of Midland with access to transit. Similar to Collingwood, staff has been proactive in meeting with community partners and agencies to promote interest in co-locating with the Ontario Works office in the new space and it is anticipated that one major partner will be approved to move in with Ontario Works in the spring of 2020. Given the lack of SOS-042-C01 PAGE 5 OF 37
Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 6
adequate and available space in Midland, several agencies expressed an immediate interest and
have begun efforts to seek respective approval(s).
The landscape of Canadian communities is changing with opioid use on the rise across the country,
including within Simcoe County. Data from Public Health Ontario, available through the Interactive
Opioid Tool, suggests there has been a steady increase in opioid related harms in Ontario for more
than a decade. Public Health Ontario data indicates that, since 2003, the number of opioid related
deaths has increased 246%; with more than 1,250 Canadians dying from opioid related causes in 2017.
Locally, demonstrated through Simcoe Muskoka Public Health data available from Public Health
Ontario, in 2017, there were 437 opioid related emergency department visits, 127 opioid related
hospitalizations and, 81 opioid related deaths in communities across Simcoe County and the District
Municipality of Muskoka.
The County of Simcoe is engaged in a regional initiative established in the Summer of 2017 in
response to the opioid crisis existent in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. The Simcoe
Muskoka Opioid Strategy (SMOS) consists of a Steering Committee and six working groups;
Prevention, Treatment, Harm Reduction, Enforcement, Emergency Management and Evidence and
Evaluation. The Ontario Works department is represented on the Harm Reduction Pillar.
As outlined below, the Harm Reduction Pillar established seven short-term and long-term goals within
the 2018 SMOS Action Plan:
Goal 1 – Increase awareness of harm reduction strategies for people who use illicit and
prescription opioids
Goal 2 – Increase naloxone distribution by area pharmacies, community partner agencies
serving at-risk populations and local emergency rooms
Goal 3 – Increase access and availability of Needle Exchange Program (NEP) services
including drug checking
Goal 4 – Increase access to overdose prevention sites (OPS) and supervised consumption
sites (SCS) in the region
Goal 5 – Increase communication among SMOS community partners and the general public
regarding the work of SMOS and the status of the opioid-related harm in Simcoe-Muskoka in
collaboration with other pillars
Goal 6 – Decrease stigma regarding people who use drugs in interactions with the general
public, including health practitioners and first responders
Goal 7 – Decrease barriers in the 911 response to an opioid overdose for people who use
drugs
Significant progress has been made to date including achievements such as:
132 Health professionals trained in the treatment of opioid use disorders
7,187 naloxone kits distributed – 5,567 by pharmacies and 120 by health agencies
3 new needle exchange sites established
An Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) Working Group, comprised of members from the Harm Reduction
Pillar, submitted a funding application to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) for the
establishment of a temporary Urgent Public Health Need Site (OPS) in Barrie. Since the time of
application there has been a change in provincial government policy and as a result, the application is
no longer valid. Since this change, the working group has focused its efforts on securing approval from
Health Canada for a Supervised Consumption Site (SCS)/Supervised Consumption and Treatment
Service in accordance with the MOHLTC Application Guidelines from October 2018. More information
on the OPS application is anticipated in the fall of 2019.
SOS-042-C01 PAGE 6 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 7 Extended hours of operation at the Barrie Ontario Works site commenced as a pilot in the income support unit on February 1, 2018. Since launching the pilot, participation expanded in January 2019 to include additional Caseworkers and Clerical staff from the income support unit. Additionally, staff from the employment services unit and the Housing Retention and discretionary benefits programs as well as Child Care Fee Subsidy staff joined the extended hours in January 2019. Extended hours services operate each Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Data is collected to identify the uptake on these extended appointment times and is used to inform operations. The Hours of Work Committee, comprised of management and union representatives meets throughout the year to review matters related to extended services. In November 2018, the County of Simcoe Ontario Works Management team met with Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Managers to introduce new management team members from both programs. This meeting was facilitated by the MCCSS Program Supervisor, with an end goal of scheduling regular meetings between the two programs. The intention of regular meetings is to ensure open communication between both Management teams and the ability to look at ways in which wrap- around supports can be provided to mutual clients. The local ODSP and Ontario Works programs are committed to improved service coordination and communication between the delivery offices within our service area. As a result, staff will be better positioned to support transfers between programs (see below), business protocols, shared case management when appropriate, and expanded and strengthened access to employment services for ODSP clients and people with disabilities within the community. The opportunity to establish dedicated Ontario Works caseworkers to assist participants wishing to apply for ODSP is an ongoing goal for 2019-2020. When actualized, this will assist in streamlining the portability process when applicants are granted ODSP. Turnaround times will be met, allowing ODSP to meet their legislated guidelines of granting files within 21 days. SOS-042-C01 PAGE 7 OF 37
Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 8
Section 1: Environmental Scan
Each year the Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board (SMWDB) produces a Local Labour
Market Plan, which provides up-to-date information on employment conditions in Simcoe County, as
well as an overview of partnership projects. This process builds an evidence-based foundation for a
strategic framework that can highlight emerging trends in the local labour market and propose actions
that will address these concerns. Additional analysis of 2016 Census data, Labour Force Survey data
and Building Permit data was also completed.
Based on 2016 Census data, in Ontario the number of employed residents grew by 5.0% between
2011 and 2016. In Simcoe County, that rate was considerably higher, at 9.3%, with the local
unemployment rate being slightly lower than the provincial rate.
Unemployment Rates:
Variation in unemployment rates between the Labour Force Survey and the Census is a result of the
variation in methodology and slight differences in the definition of ‘unemployed’. The Labour Force
Survey data allows for time trend analysis, whereas the 2016 Census allows for demographic trend
analysis at the Simcoe County level. Based on Labour Force Survey data, the unemployment rate in
Simcoe County in 2017-2018 was 5.2%, which was slightly lower than Ontario as a whole at 5.3%.
Based on the 2016 Census, the unemployment rate in Simcoe County was 6.9% representing 17,835
individuals and 7.4% in Ontario as a whole. The participation rate was 65.5% in Simcoe County and
64.7% in Ontario. Looking specifically at the population 25-64, the unemployment rate in Simcoe
County dropped to 5.3% and the participation rate increased to 81.1%. Similarly, the unemployment
rate of Ontario dropped to 5.8% and the participation rate increased to 80.3%.
Based on Labour Force Survey data, the unemployment rate in Simcoe County has been on a
downward trend since 2009-2010, reaching the lowest rate in 2017-2018.
Unemployment Rate Two Year Average Estimate for
Simcoe County and Ontario 2008-2018
12
Unemployment Rate
9.4
10 8.3 8.8 8.3
8 7.1
6.1 5.8 6.2 5.7 5.2
6 7.3
6.9 6.7 6.4 6.4
4 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.9
5.3
2
0
08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18
Year
Ontario Simcoe County
SOS-042-C01 PAGE 8 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 9
Based on an analysis of unemployment rates in Simcoe County from the 2016 Census by age, gender,
highest level of education, visible minority, Aboriginal identify, immigration status, major field of study,
top five occupations and top five industries, the following groups had the highest unemployment rates:
Percentage of
Number of
Unemployment Unemployed
Groups (Population 15 and Over) Unemployed
Rate Population
Individuals
Youth 15-24 15.8 6,125 34.3%
People with no certificate diploma or degree 11.9 3,750 21.0%
Indigenous 10.9 1,220 6.8%
Recent Immigrants (Immigrated to Canada 1.3%
10.4 240
between 2011 to 2016)
Non permanent residents 10.2 95 0.5%
People in the accommodation and food services 9.4%
9.0 1,685
industry
Visible minorities 8.1 1,445 8.1%
People in the construction industry 7.8 1,960 11.0%
Work Activity and Class of Worker:
In 2015, the percentage of Simcoe County individuals aged fifteen and higher, who did not work was
32.0%, which is slightly lower than Ontario’s percentage of 33.5%. Simcoe County also had slightly
higher percentages of individuals, aged fifteen years and over, that worked full year, either part-time or
full-time, when compared to Ontario.
In 2016, when looking at the class of worker, the percentage of Simcoe County individuals that were
self-employed was 12.1%, which is higher than Ontario’s percentage of 11.5%.
Work Activity, for the Simcoe County and Ontario Population Aged 15 Years or Over, 2015.
Simcoe County Ontario
Work Activity
# % %
Did not work 125,435 32.0% 33.5%
Worked part year, part-time or full-time 101,785 26.0% 26.8%
Worked full year part-time 22,390 5.7% 5.0%
Worked full year full-time 142,570 36.4% 34.8%
Total - Work activity during the reference year 392,185 100.0% 100.0%
Source:
Statistics Canada 2016. Employment Income Statistics, Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree, Work Activity during the Reference Year, Age
and Sex for the Population Aged 15 Years and Over in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and
Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016261.
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Top Industries:
The two tables below, illustrate the top five industries in which the population, aged fifteen years and
over, was employed in 2016. In Simcoe County, the industry with the highest percentage of employed
individuals was ‘retail trade’, followed by ‘manufacturing and health care and social assistance’. When
compared, both Ontario and Simcoe County have almost the same top five industries expect for
‘construction’ and ‘educational services’. Simcoe County has ‘construction’ in its top fourth position,
whereas, Ontario has ‘educational services’ in its top fourth position.
The Top Five Industries (NAICS 2012), for the Population
aged Fifteen Years or Over, in Simcoe County, 2016.
Industries # %
Retail trade 28,640 13.0%
Manufacturing 25,925 11.7%
Health care and social assistance 25,530 11.6%
Construction 21,915 9.9%
Accommodation and food services 16,795 7.6%
Source: Statistics Canada. 2019. Main Mode of Commuting (10), Industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2012 (21),
Occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 (11) and Sex (3) for the Employed Labour Force Aged 15 Years and Over Having
a Usual Place of Work or No Fixed Workplace Address, in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and
Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census. Data Table. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016334.
The Top Five Industries (NAICS 2012), for the Population
aged Fifteen Years or Over, in Ontario, 2016.
Industries # %
Retail trade 709,450 11.6%
Health care and social assistance 693,045 11.4%
Manufacturing 629,600 10.3%
Educational services 478,735 7.9%
Accommodation and food services 430,510 7.1%
Source: Statistics Canada. 2019.Main Mode of Commuting (10), Industry - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2012 (21),
Occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 (11) and Sex (3) for the Employed Labour Force Aged 15 Years and Over Having
a Usual Place of Work or No Fixed Workplace Address, in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and
Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census. Data Table. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016334.
Canadian Business Counts:
Based on June 2018 Canadian Business Count data, there were a total of 42,575 businesses in
Simcoe County. The businesses were primarily made up of small businesses, 70% of which had zero
employees (e.g. solo consultants, professionals and the self-employed), 16% had 1-4 employees, 6%
had 5-9 employees, 4% had 10-19 employees, 2% had 20-49, 1% had 50-99 and 1% had 100+. The
three industries with the largest number of firms in Simcoe County were ‘real estate and rental &
leasing’, accounting for 19% of all firms, followed closely by ‘construction’ (16%) and ‘professional,
scientific & technical services’ (11%). Larger businesses were primarily ‘retail trade’, ‘construction’ and
‘accommodation & food’.
Overall, there has been a significant increase in the total number of firms in Simcoe County between
June 2017 and June 2018, up 1,342 firms, an increase of 3.3% over 2017. While 1,198 firms had
been added to the category of firms with no employees (e.g. solo consultants, professionals and the
self-employed), representing a 4% increase, firms with more than 100 employees dropped by 6
representing a decrease of 3%.
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It appears that significant increases in the number of firms and in employment have occurred in:
‘construction’; ‘transportation & warehousing’; ‘professional, scientific & technical services’; and
‘administrative & support services’. In ‘construction’, the increases appear to be primarily in:
residential building construction; drywall and insulation installers; and painting and wall covering
contractors. In ‘real estate and rental & leasing’, there was a large jump in the no employee
category. This includes over 400 more landlords and around 100 more real estate agents. The most
significant losses appear to be in the ‘wholesale trade sector’. Other industries that would appear to
have experienced losses were: ‘agriculture; mining and oil & gas extraction’; ‘educational services’;
and ‘public administration’. The decline in Educational Services seems to be entirely related to a
drop in the number of establishments with no employees providing athletic instruction.
Building Permit Data
The value of total construction in Simcoe County from 2009 to 2018 has followed a similar trend to that
of Ontario. Simcoe County saw a drop in the value of total construction between 2017 and 2018 of 26%.
This drop was primarily due to a drop in industrial construction value, which saw a drop of 60% between
2017 and 2018. Residential construction value also saw a drop of 32%, while institutional construction
value saw an increase of 66% and commercial construction value saw an increase of 39%.
Employment Ontario Program Related Data
Employment Ontario (EO) data, included in the Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board
(SMWDB) Labour Market Plan, Continues to be a valuable source for capturing local labour market
information and although it includes EO Services in both Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka, it
is important to note that Simcoe County has a much higher volume of Employment Ontario services.
This data was specially compiled by the Ministry of Training and has program statistics related to
Apprenticeship, Canada Ontario Job Grant, Employment Services, Literacy and Basic Skills, Ontario
Employment Assistance Program, Second Career and Youth Job Connection for the 2017-18 fiscal
year. The following are some of the highlights:
The number and percent of Ontario unassisted Research and Information (R&I) Employment
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Specialist clients has decreased between 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 in Simcoe County and
Muskoka from 18,584 to 16,286 clients, representing a change in percent of Ontario from
3.8% to 3.4%;
The number of assisted R&I clients has decreased between 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 in
Simcoe County and Muskoka from 6,004 to 5,866 although the percent of Ontario remained
the same at 3.1%;
Youth were somewhat under-represented among assisted clients compared to their share of
the unemployed population (21% of the client population compared to 34% of all unemployed
in 2016);
There has been a more severe drop in the share of assisted clients who were youth, from
27% in 2015-2016 to 21% in 2017-2018. A similar trend was observed at the regional level
(Central Region consists of Peel, Halton, Toronto, Durham, York, Simcoe and Muskoka);
The share of older adult clients (45-64 years of age) has been consistently higher than this
age group’s share of the unemployed;
In 2017-2018 Simcoe County and Muskoka had a higher percentage of Aboriginal group ES
assisted clients compared to the Region and Ontario (6.0% vs 1.4% vs 3.9%) as well as a
higher percentage of persons with disabilities (15.2% vs 7.0% vs 10.1%);
The share of newcomers as a proportion of assisted clients was higher than their share of
the unemployed at all levels;
The proportion of Aboriginal clients has been steadily increasing over the last few years, but
is still somewhat below their share of the unemployed;
The proportion of clients who are internationally trained professionals has increased from 5%
in 2016-2017 to 6% in 2017-2018 after having maintained the same level of 5% for four years;
More Simcoe County and Muskoka clients had a high school diploma or a college or
apprenticeship diploma or certificate, and far fewer have a university degree;
There are more ES Assisted clients with college diplomas than there are among the
unemployed
A large share of clients (45%) cited no source of income;
The largest different between the length of time unemployed among ES (employment
services) assisted clients and the unemployed population is the far fewer numbers of ES
clients who have been unemployed for less than 3 months (48% vs 64%) and the far greater
number of ES clients who have been unemployed for more than 12 months (22% vs 6%) in
comparison to data from the Labour Force Survey data at the Ontario level;
72% of outcomes involved employment,11% involved training, 6% remained unemployed,
4% were other and 7% were unknown;
There was virtually no change at the local, regional and provincial levels in terms of
outcomes, compared to last year, apart from a 1% change in some of the categories;
There has been a considerable drop in the proportion of clients for whom lay-off industry data
has been collected across all three areas (Simcoe County and Muskoka dropped from 73%
in 2016-2017 to 52% for 2017-2018);
Over half (55%) of employment outcomes were in four industries: Manufacturing; Retail
Trade; Administrative & Support Services; and Accommodation & Food Services, while
representing 36% of all employment. Construction was the fifth, accounting for an additional
12% of all employment outcomes; and,
Prominent industries for both lay-offs and employment outcomes were ‘service support
and other service occupations, not elsewhere classified, and trades helpers,
construction labourers and related occupations’.
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With respect to literacy and basic skills clients, collection of data showed a drop in the number of in-
person learners and a drop in the areas share of the province from 5.5% in 2016-2017 to 4.4% in
2017-2018. There was an increase in Francophones from 5% in 2016-2017 to 8% in 2017-2018. In
2017-2018, Simcoe County and Muskoka had a lower proportion of clients being served through the
community college sector (30% in 2017-2018 vs 41% in 2016-2017), experiencing a drop of 11%.
One third (33%) of clients were served through the community agency sector and 36% were served
through the school board sector. The demographics of clients showed:
39% of clients were 25-44 years of age;
28% were 15-24 years old;
Slightly over half (55%) were female;
Almost half (49%) have no educational certificate and another quarter (25%) have a high
school diploma; and
Around a quarter (26%) were employed, another quarter (25%) had no source of income;
and, almost another quarter (21%) were in receipt of Ontario Works.
A higher percentage of LBS (Literacy and Basic Skills) clients in Simcoe County and Muskoka were
persons with disabilities compared to the Region and Ontario (30% vs 15% vs 23%) although the
percent dropped compared to the 2016-2017 rate of 58%. The percentage distribution of goal paths
by each labour force attachment category showed:
Employed full-time and part-time, the main goal was a post-secondary goal path (44% and
45%);
Full-time students, the goal was employment (43%);
Part-time students, the goal was secondary school credit goal path (84%);
Self-employed, the goal varied between employment goal path (35%) and post-secondary
goal path (32%);
Under-employed, the goal was employment (100%); and,
Unemployed, the goal was employment (41%).
Informal ‘word of mouth/media referral’ and other ‘structured/formal’ were in the top three sources of in-
referrals for Simcoe County and Muskoka as well as the Region and Ontario. Top destinations of out-
referrals in Simcoe County and Muskoka were to health/counselling services, educational/academic
services and EO-Employment service providers. Compared to the Region and the Province, Simcoe
County and Muskoka had a notably higher proportion of clients with an unemployed outcome and a
lower proportion of clients with unknown outcomes. Clients also have slightly higher “Employed Full-
time” outcomes and lower ‘Employed Apprentice’ outcomes. Simcoe County and Muskoka also saw a
slight increase in the “In Education” category, bringing its figure closer to the proportions at the Region
and provincial levels.
Second Career continues to be a viable option for clients with over half (61%) being 25-44 years of
age, and another 39% 45-64 years old. Over half (58%) of clients were males, and most individuals
either had a high school diploma (48%) or a college diploma (24%), and none had a university degree.
Almost three quarters (74%) of clients were in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI), and almost three-
quarters (68%) had been unemployed for less than six months. Transport truck driver was the top
second career approved skills training program across Simcoe County and Muskoka, the Region and
Ontario. Outcomes at exit were fairly consistent across the local, regional, and provincial areas, with
20%-28% employed and a large number unemployed or unknown. At twelve months, there is a
somewhat greater variance: at the local level 85% were employed and the remaining 15% were listed
as unknown.
For Apprentice clients; just under half (48%) were 15-24 years of age, and another 46% were 25-44
years of age, 81% were males, three quarters (76%) had finished high school, and one in five (20%)
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had not finished high school. The three most common trade registrations were automotive service
technician, electrician, and hairstylist, which were the same across the Region and Ontario.
For the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJC), 80% of employers have fewer than 50 employees. Training
provider type varied between registered private career college (31%), private trainer (25%) and product
vender (20%). The outcome at exit details remained consistent across SMWDB, Region, and
Province, with extremely high reported levels of an increase in productivity among those trained (93%)
and that the training met their workforce needs (97%). Among the trainees over half (55%) were 25-44
years old, 52% were males, and almost all (94%) were employed full time and were employed when
COJG was completed.
The local Youth Job Connection Program noted that 80% of clients were 15-24 years old, 59% were
males, the majority have either no certificate (45%) or a high school diploma (47%), 61% have no
source of income and 24% were in receipt of Ontario Works.
In late 2018 to early 2019 the SMWDB administered a survey to employers to obtain their views on
labour market challenges. There was an average of 256 responses per question. The distribution of
employers provided a relatively good mix of different types of industries from across Simcoe County
and Muskoka, although there was a significant over-representation of firms in the Manufacturing
sector; there was over-representation from Muskoka employers; and by size, far more employers
with more than 20 employees and far fewer with 1 to 4 employees. Key findings from the survey
included:
The most significant issue facing all employers across Simcoe County and Muskoka was the
number and/or quality of job applicants
o This was especially pronounced among larger firms (more than 20 employees) and in
the Construction section
The next most prominent issue was the pressure to increase wages which was felt somewhat
more strongly by larger firms and employers in the Services sector
Employers expressed the greatest concern in recruitment and concern regarding turnover of
employees in relation to technical/mid-skill jobs (usually requiring a college diploma or
apprenticeship certificate)
The occupation with the next highest level of concern regarding turnover was intermediate
skills occupations, which was higher for large employers and for manufacturers, followed by
low-skilled jobs, which was highest for employers in the Construction sector and the Services
sectors
The top challenge in recruiting for entry-level positions included not enough job candidates;
o This was particularly the case in Muskoka, employers with one to four employees,
and Services sector employers
Employers rated the top impact of recruitment and retention challenges as staff working
overtime (particularly among firms with 100 or more employees) and that it creates mental
stress (more so among Construction firms and firms with 20-99 employees)
Many employers stated they already provide workplace learning experiences to students,
flexibility regarding scheduling work hours and offer retention bonuses
Half of employers indicated they were willing to try or willing to hear more about participating
in a committee to advise schools about workplace needs
When asked to assess their organization’s human resources policies and practices about half
of employers felt there was need for a lot of improvement or some improvement in: “support
for commuting/ridesharing;” “support for relocating;” “formal exit interviews;” and “regular
review of turnover statistics”
When provided with a list of possible solutions, Simcoe employers rated three possible
solutions more or less equally: ensuring that local high schools are better connected with
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employers, ensuring more local youth attend post-secondary education and encouraging
more students to participate in co-op and internship placements
Social Assistance Statics
The County of Simcoe has consistently demonstrated success in over achieving targets for average
employment earnings and as such, continued to show a gradual increase when setting targets for 2019.
As witnessed from the data, average monthly employment earnings for those with earnings increased
steadily between 2013 and 2015, with a decrease noted in 2016. Improvement in this outcome was
witnessed in 2017 and 2018 with average monthly employment earnings reflecting $767 in 2018,
surpassing the established 2018 target of $732.25.
Caseload Trends
2018 witnessed a slight decrease in the percentage of the Ontario Works caseload with earnings
accounting for 13.55% in 2018 compared to 14.27% in 2017. This achievement surpassed the 12.6%
target for this outcome. Moving forward into 2019, an increase is projected for this target to 13.96%
for 2019. The projection is guarded based on factors such as the increased minimum wage, which
although extremely positive, has led to a reduction in work hours in some cases.
The percentage of terminations exiting to employment was targeted at 4.07% for 2018, this target
was overachieved at a total of 7.18%. The percentage of the Ontario Works caseload exiting to
employment was targeted at 0.51% for 2018 and overachieved at 0.59%. It remains challenging to
ensure accurate data is captured within Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) regarding
individuals exiting Ontario Works due to employment. Caseworkers have been actively seeking this
information from participants whose files terminate, however, this information is not available
regarding all clients exiting the program in all cases. As addressed in a subsequent section of this
Service Plan, the development of a local Ontario Works Case Management tool, which was rolled out
to all Ontario Works staff in January 2019, focuses on enhanced employment planning capabilities
which will better support improvements in client service delivery as well as provide the opportunity to
more accurately capture data relating to such factors as the percentage of terminations due to
employment.
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In order to improve the likelihood of success for Ontario Works participants in securing lucrative and
sustainable employment, Ontario Works staff continues to work closely with participants, community
partners and employers to ensure necessary supports are in place and skills are maximized to
increase opportunities to acquire and maintain profitable employment. Areas such as life skills and
soft employment skills are areas of focus and programming will continue to adjust to meet
participants’ requirements.
From 2017 to 2018, the largest increase in the monthly average number of cases, was seen for the
head of family older than 64 years of age (42.1%) and under 18 years of age (41.4%). The greatest
percent decrease was seen in head of families aged 22-24 years (-12.0%) and 45-54 years (-11.0%).
Outcomes: Earnings and Employment
1: Average Monthly Employment Earnings per Case Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD AVG
2018 Actuals = 2019 Forecast Baseline $749.00 $756.00 $769.00 $793.00 $767.00
Targeted Improvement from Baseline 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Targeted Improvement ($) $22.00 $23.00 $23.00 $24.00 $23.00
Target $771.00 $779.00 $792.00 $817.00 $790.00
Points Assigned: 250
2: Percentage of Caseload with Employment
Earnings Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD AVG
2018 Actuals = 2019 Forecast Baseline 13.57% 13.06% 13.65% 13.93% 13.55%
Targeted Improvement from Baseline 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Targeted Improvement (%) 0.41% 0.39% 0.41% 0.42% 0.41%
Target 13.98% 13.45% 14.06% 14.35% 13.96%
Points Assigned: 250
3: Percentage of Terminations Exiting to
Employment Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD AVG
2018 Actuals = 2019 Forecast Baseline 5.36% 9.31% 5.65% 8.38% 7.18%
Targeted Improvement from Baseline 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Targeted Improvement (%) 0.16% 0.28% 0.17% 0.25% 0.22%
Target 5.52% 9.59% 5.82% 8.63% 7.39%
Points Assigned: 250
4: Percentage of Caseload Exiting to Employment Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YTD AVG
2018 Actuals = 2019 Forecast Baseline 0.40% 0.75% 0.56% 0.63% 0.59%
Targeted Improvement from Baseline 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00%
Targeted Improvement (%) 0.01% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02%
Target 0.41% 0.77% 0.58% 0.65% 0.60%
Points Assigned: 250
1: Average Monthly Employment Earnings per Case 250
2: Percentage of Caseload with Employment Earnings 250
3: Percentage of Terminations Exiting to Employment 250
4: Percentage of Caseload Exiting to Employment 250
Total 1,000
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Average Number of Cases
Age of Head of Family % change
2017 2018
Under 18 years old 41 58 41.4%
18-21 years old 412 374 -9.2%
22-24 years old 566 498 -12.0%
25-34 years old 1,830 1,809 -1.1%
35-44 years old 1,084 1,095 1.1%
45-54 years old 901 802 -11.1%
55-64 years old 580 562 -3.2%
Over 64 years old 10 14 42.1%
Source: Ontario Works Caseloads at a Glance 2019-03
Simcoe County Population and Demographics
Population growth continues to be an important factor in Simcoe County. According to the 2016
Census, there were 479,650 people residing in Simcoe County. From 2011 to 2016, the total
population of Simcoe County increased by 33,587 residents, which represents an increase of 7.5%.
This compares to the provincial average increase of 4.6% and the national average increase of 5.0%.
Simcoe County is one of the census divisions surrounding the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that is
projected to continue to experience population growth significantly above the provincial average. The
population of Simcoe County is projected to increase by 35.2%, from 516,092 in 2018 to 697,611 in
2041 (Ministry of Finance. Ontario Population Projections Update, 2017-2041).
Population projections indicate that there is an expected increase across all age groups in Simcoe
County, which will have a significant impact on the delivery of social services. The projected growth in
the over 65 age cohorts is particularly noteworthy; from 2018 to 2041, the age cohort of 65-79 is
expected to increase by 73.3% and the 80 and over age cohort by 212.1% according to projections
provided by Ontario Ministry of Finance (MOF).
SOS-042-C01 PAGE 17 OF 37Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 18 The County of Simcoe, as the Service Manager for the delivery of Ontario Works, established a French Language Services (FLS) Plan in accordance with Clause 1 of the French Language Services Act, 2008-2009 that ensured full compliance under the Act by July 2014. The County of Simcoe Ontario Works department has made significant gains in the provision of FLS and currently has designated bilingual staff in all units across the department, who are able to actively provide services in both official languages In 2009, the Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs introduced the Inclusive Definition of Francophone (IDF), which is a new more inclusive definition of the province’s Francophone population. The new variable is derived based on three questions in the national census of population concerning mother tongue, the language spoken at home and knowledge of official languages. The new IDF estimates the number of persons whose mother tongue is French, plus those people whose mother tongue is neither French nor English (allophones) but who speak French (Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs. 2009. Francophone Population Re-Defined). Although the Inclusion IDF is based on census data, it is a derived variable so it cannot be calculated at the local level without cross-tabulating the raw data. However, based on an inclusive definition used by the Canadian Council on Social Development, census data can be provided at the local level. This definition was based on three questions in the national census of population concerning first official language spoken, mother tongue, and language spoken most often at home. Since 2011, the Francophone population in Simcoe County has increased by 3%, from 13,260 in 2011 to 13,660 in 2016. As of 2016, the Francophone population accounted for 3% of the total population in Simcoe County. The Francophone population is older than the overall population in Simcoe County. The median age of the Francophone population in 2016 was 47, while the median age for the total population was 43. Almost half of the Francophone population was between the ages of 35 to 64, with 23% from 35 to 49 years of age and 24% between the ages of 50 and 64. The Francophone population is also aging, with a higher proportion 65 years of age or older compared to the proportion who are 19 years and younger (22% versus 19%). SOS-042-C01 PAGE 18 OF 37
Schedule 1 Committee of the Whole - CCW-2019-266 Page 19
The three selected language variables from the 2016 Census of the population are presented in the
table below. In Simcoe County, there were 12,430 people that consider French to be their mother
tongue language and 32,085 people that reported knowledge of the French language.
The proportion of the Population Reporting French by
Selected Language Characteristics, 2016 (single and multiple
responses)
Language Spoken Most Knowledge of
Mother Tongue Often at Home Official Languages
Geographic % of Total % of Total % of Total
Area # # #
Population Population Population
Canada 7,452,075 21.4% 7,322,215 21.1% 10,360,750 29.8%
Ontario 568,340 4.3% 348,275 2.6% 1,530,430 11.5%
Simcoe County 12,430 2.6% 4,690 1.0% 32,085 6.8%
Source: Statistics Canada. 2017. Census Profile. 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001.
Simcoe County has two First Nations reserves; Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Beausoleil First
Nation. In 2016, 21,960 people identified as Aboriginal (First Nations, Metis, or Inuk), representing
4.7% of the total population in Simcoe County. The provincial proportion of the population identifying as
aboriginal was 2.8% in 2016.
The Simcoe County Aboriginal population has increased from 12,985 in 2006 to 21,955 in 2016. Since
2006, the Aboriginal population has grown by 69.1%, which is more than six times the growth rate of
11.7% of the non-Aboriginal population. Two main factors have contributed to the growing of
Aboriginal population; the first is natural growth, which includes increased life expectancy and relatively
high fertility rates; the second factor relates to changes in the self-reported identification, which means
that more people are newly identifying as Aboriginal on the Census (Statistics Canada. 2017.
Aboriginal peoples in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census). In 2016, the average age of the
Aboriginal population was 34.4 years in Simcoe County, almost a decade younger than the non-
Aboriginal population (41.7 years old).
In 2016, 13.1% of Simcoe County’s population were immigrants (61,605), with 4,110 of them being
recent immigrants who moved to Canada within the last five years, 2011 to 2016 (Statistics Canada.
2016. Census). Simcoe County’s percentage of immigrants is lower than Ontario’s percentage of
immigrants (29.1%). From 2006 to 2016, the immigrant population in Simcoe County grew by 20.0%,
much faster than growth of 12.0% of Simcoe County’s non-immigrant population.
According to the 2016 Census, the average age of immigrants living in Simcoe County was 56.0 years
old, while the average age for the total population was 41.4 years old. The average age for recent
immigrants was 34.4 years old.
The distribution of the total Simcoe County recent immigrant population, by admission categories are as
follows: ‘Economic Immigrant’ (1,640 or 39.9%), ‘Immigrant sponsored by Family’ (1,985 or 48.3%),
‘Refugee’ (375 or 9.1%) and ‘Other Immigrant’ (125 or 3.0%).
In 2016, in Simcoe County, 440,350 individuals or 91.8% of the population had knowledge of English
only, 360 individuals or 0.1% of the population had knowledge of French only, 31,725 individuals or
6.6% of the population had knowledge of both English and French and 2,300 individuals or 0.5% of the
population had knowledge of neither English nor French.
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In 2016, in Simcoe County, 89.8% of the population reported an official language (English or French) as
being their mother tongue, while the remaining 10.2% of the population reported a non-official language
(Aboriginal or Immigrant) as being their mother tongue. Overall for Simcoe County, there was an
increase of 24.1% (9,280) in the number of people who have a non-official language as their mother
tongue. The top five mother tongue languages in Simcoe County were: Italian, German, Portuguese,
Spanish and Polish.
In order to ensure linguistically appropriate services are available to residents in need of Ontario Works
assistance, the County of Simcoe Ontario Works department arranges to provide interpreter services to
those applicants whose first language is one other than English or French. Ontario Works staff are
able to access immediate interpretation services through a qualified, confidential, third party service
provider thereby ensuring linguistically appropriate service provision from the initial point of contact in
the service relationship. In 2018 interpretive services were used for 25 different languages a total of
296 times. The chart below indicates the top seven interpreter languages requested in 2018. Requests
for Spanish accounted for 21%, Farsi and Russian made up 15% each, Arabic made up 14%, Urdu
represented 8%, Tamil represented 7% and Vietnamese represented 5%.
Transportation and commute data for the employed labour force, aged fifteen years and over, having a
usual place of work from the 2016 Census showed:
In Simcoe County a higher percentage of the population commute to a different census
subdivision (CSD) within their census division (CD) or residence compared to Ontario as a whole
(34% vs 16%)
In Simcoe County a higher percentage of the population commute 35 km or more from home to
work compared to Ontario as a whole (23% vs 10%)
In Simcoe County a higher percentage of the population main mode of commuting was a car,
truck or van (91% vs 77%) and a lower percentage of the population used sustainable
transportation such as public transit (3% vs 15%)
Income data, from the 2016 Census, and for the reference year of 2015 showed:
The median household total income (before tax) of Simcoe County rose by 3.7%, from $73,740
in 2005 to $76,489 in 2015. This household income was slightly higher than Ontario’s median
household income of $74,287
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In Simcoe County, the overall low-income rate was 11.4% in 2015, a 1.6% increase from 9.8% in
2005. Simcoe County’s low-income rate was lower than Ontario’s rate of 14.4%
In 2016, Simcoe County had a lower percentage of individuals with a university certificate, diploma or
degree at a bachelor level or above, compared to Ontario.
Highest Level of Education Attained (Population 15 and Over), Simcoe County and Ontario, 2016
Level of Education Simcoe Ontario
# % # %
No certificate, diploma or degree 74,780 19.1% 1,935,360 17.5%
Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency
121,240 30.9% 3,026,100 27.4%
certificate
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 31,065 7.9% 664,175 6.0%
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or
97,780 24.9% 2,298,715 20.8%
diploma
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level 6,580 1.7% 242,005 2.2%
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor
60,730 15.5% 2,872,085 26.0%
level or above
Total - Highest certificate, diploma or degree for the
population aged fifteen years and over in private 392,180 100.0% 11,038,440 100.0%
households
Sources:
Statistics Canada. 2019. Target group profile of the population by age groups, Census, 2016.Census of Canada (database). Community
Data Program (distributer).
In 2016, in Simcoe County, 86.8% of individuals were non-movers, similar to Ontario’s percentage of
87.6%. Simcoe County had 61,430 individuals who were movers, wherefrom 42.8% were non-
migrants (moved but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve), 50.7% were
intraprovincial migrants, 3.7% were interprovincial migrants and 2.8% were external migrants. Simcoe
County had a higher percentage of intraprovincial migrants, whereas, Ontario had a higher percentage
of external migrants.
Mobility Status 1 Year Ago, 2016.
Simcoe Ontario
Mobility Status # % # %
Non-migrants 26,310 42.8% 941,380 57.7%
Migrants 35,120 57.2% 689,625 42.3%
Intraprovincial migrants 31,145 50.7% 467,890 28.7%
Interprovincial migrants 22,55 3.7% 67,290 4.1%
External migrants 17,15 2.8% 154,445 9.5%
Total Movers 61,430 100.0% 1,631,005 100.0%
Sources:
Statistics Canada. 2019. Target group profile of the population by age groups, Census, 2016.Census of Canada (database).
Community Data Program (distributer)
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Section 2: Strategies and Outcomes
In an effort to increase the number of cases with employment income and facilitate a greater number of
participants exiting to employment, the Ontario Works Employment Services team works in close
partnership with many community service providers. Strong working relationships continue with
Employment Ontario and Employment and Literacy Services. Consistent communication among all
parties has proven beneficial in developing strong partnerships and has enhanced the ability to focus
efforts on the needs of participants as well as collectively increasing and improving programming.
Communication regarding Employment Ontario programs and services is received regularly and is
disseminated to Ontario Works staff to support their work with participants. Information related to job
fairs is posted for participants Employment Services Workers provide the necessary supports to
participants to enable them to attend job fairs and interviews. Employment Services Workers coordinate
their efforts with Employment Ontario staff ensuring participants receive financial support related to
commencing employment.
Ontario Works continues to partner with the County of Simcoe Long Term Care Services and since
2017 has provided support to Ontario Works Participants interested in the Personal Support Worker
(PSW) field. The employment services team provides financial support to participants to facilitate
access to necessary training and education in addition to providing ongoing motivation and
encouragement throughout the educational and training process. Upon completion of requisite training
and education, the employment services team assists participants through the application process for
available Personal Support Worker employment opportunities and works closely with the County of
Simcoe Human Resources department to coordinate interview opportunities for qualified Ontario Works
participants.
The chart below captures the outcomes in relation to the number of Ontario Works participants referred
to the employment services team for Personal Support Worker opportunities with the County of Simcoe
Long Term Care services in 2018 and in the first quarter of 2019.
Personal Support Worker (PSW) Referrals to Employment Support Team Outcomes
2018 & 1st Quarter of 2019
# of Ontario Works participant referred to Employment Worker for PSW support 12
# of participants who started PSW Training 7
# of participants who completed their PSW certification 2
# of participants nearing their completion of PSW certification 3
# on hold due to personal circumstances however, close to completion 1
# who did not follow through with PSW training 1
# of Participants referred to County of Simcoe for employment 4
# of Participants who accepted employment with the County of Simcoe 2
# of participants who accepted employment with other institutions i.e. Chartwell, 3
Creeden Valley Care, Bayshore Home Health, with ESW support.
Total number completed training & employed with increased earnings 5
In 2018 and during the first quarter of 2019, the Ontario Works employment services team held thirteen
job fairs to assist employers with their hiring needs. These job fairs were for temporary agencies
recruiting for general labour in temporary and permanent positions as well as in manufacturing.
The chart below provides detail as to the area of employment in which Ontario Works participants who
were working actively with an Employment Services Worker gained employment in 2018 and during the
first quarter of 2019.
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