Committee to survey professionals in Central Newfoundland

The Central Region Steering Committee of the Strategic Social Plan wants to know what factors attract and keep education and health professionals in their region.

Through the Joining Forces project, the committee plans to survey professionals working in Central Newfoundland later this spring. Joining Forces was launched last September to improve recruitment and retention strategies in the area.

"For many of our regions, attracting and keeping specialists is a growing challenge," said Gerald Smith, minister of Health and Community Services, lead minister for the Strategic Social Plan. "People are coming together and looking for new approaches to tackle this issue. This work is certainly valuable and complements what is happening in government as we develop a provincial labour market survey."

Susanne Hobbs, planner-researcher for the Joining Forces project, is working with an advisory committee, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency to develop and implement the confidential survey.

"We want to know who is coming to our region, how they found out about job openings, why they came, why they stay and what would cause them to leave," said Ms. Hobbs. "This information is extremely valuable in helping us improve the recruitment and retention strategies in our region, and develop long-term human resource plans in the face of increased competition for certain professionals."

The project will also include a review of practices in other areas and provinces, interviews with stakeholders and recruiters, a regional forum, and develop of some generic marketing materials.

"It is really useful to learn about what other jurisdictions are doing to recruit professionals," said Des Dillon, chair of the Central Region Steering Committee. "We know that salaries are important, but we also know that many other factors, including quality of life, play a role in where people choose to live and work."

The survey will be carried out in late spring, and results will be analyzed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency.

For more information on the Joining Forces Project, call Susanne Hobbs at 292-4376.

Media contact: Marcia Porter, Communications, 729-0175.

2003 03 24                                       11:20 a.m.