Career Work Centre Opened in Stephenville

The Provincial Government�s Career Work Centre network was extended to the Bay St. George area with today�s grand opening of a new facility in Stephenville. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, opened the new office at 29 Carolina Avenue this morning, increasing the province-wide network to 11 centres.

�Our Career Work Centres are playing a key role in helping Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pursue their employment goals amid changing employment conditions,� said Minister Sullivan. �First-time job seekers, displaced workers, students and employers can all benefit from the extensive services and facilities provided by these community-based facilities. The Williams Government is committed to ensuring all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to the employment information and resources they need, and these centres are a central part of that commitment.�

Employers and community leaders in the area will be able to use this conveniently-located regional centre to avail of valuable labour market statistics and timely information about employment trends. They can also take advantage of the centre�s meeting room to conduct interviews for vacant positions or hold training sessions. Job seekers can use their local centre to find out where employment opportunities exist and then get one-on-one help with preparing for these opportunities.

Career Work Centres are just one of the many ways the Provincial Government is helping to enhance employment opportunities and improve the labour market in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the opening ceremony of the Bay St. George centre, Minister Sullivan spoke of two recent initiatives also aimed at strengthening the province�s labour market: the launch www.jobsinNL.ca, a new online recruitment and job search resource, and Creating a Province of Choice: A Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador.

�In addition to opening new Career Work Centres, my department also recently launched www.jobsinnl.ca,� said Minister Sullivan. �This website was developed in partnership with business and labour with the result being a powerful tool that will provide immediate results with respect to connecting job seekers and employers. I encourage employers to visit the site today to sign up for an account and start posting free job ads. Job seekers should also check out the site to learn about the many job opportunities available right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.�

�With regard to longer-term initiatives that will address increases in demand for labour in our province, I am very proud of our new Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy,� said Minister Sullivan. �This strategy was developed in close collaboration with our province�s young people to ensure that they see this province as a province of choice in which to build their futures. Attracting and retaining the talents and passion of the next generation is integral to the province�s continued prosperity, and now we have a strategy valued at over $15 million that features 41 new initiatives to achieve exactly that.�

The Honourable Joan Burke, MHA for St. George's-Stephenville East and Tony Cornect, MHA for Port Au Port, also joined Minister Sullivan for today�s event.

�I am very pleased to see this new facility established in the Bay St. George area,� said Minister Burke. �I join with my colleague, Tony Cornect, MHA for Port Au Port, in welcoming this facility. The economy of this region has changed significantly over the last several years, and so it is important for area residents to have access to supports that can help them adapt to these changes and pursue their employment goals. I am confident this Career Work Centre will be of great benefit to the Bay St. George area, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts it will have in the future."

�This Career Work Centre is a tremendous new resource for the Bay St. George area,� said Tony Cornect. �I believe there is great potential for economic growth in this region, and this centre will facilitate growth by helping job seekers and employers connect. I wish the staff of this new office all the best as they begin their work, and I encourage area residents to discover what this facility can do for them.�

The expansion of the Career Work Centre network in 2008-2009 is supported by a $5.3 million dollar investment that was made in Budget 2008 to assist employers and job seekers. When complete, the Career Work Centre network will comprise 14 locations providing comprehensive employment support throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

To find out more about Career Work Centres, visit the Provincial Government�s Labour Market Information Works website, at www.lmiworks.nl.ca/CareerWorkCentres/. 

To find out more about the Provincial Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, please visit www.youth.gov.nl.ca and for more information on the province�s new recruitment and job resource site, visit www.jobsinnl.ca. 

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Photo: The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, officially opened the Career Work Centre in Stephenville.

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2009 11 10                                                   11:20 a.m.