With Windsor being the unemployment capital of Canada, it may be hard for some to believe 400 local skilled trades jobs are sitting empty.
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Marchand says our region leads the world in tool die and mold. "There is high demand for it, but not enough people. Some of the work is being outsourced to other jurisdictions because we cannot find local talent at the moment," says Marchand. "It's well-paying too. Once you're finished your training these high skilled areas are doing $60,000 to $70,000 even $80,000 a year a few years out of school."
Many of these unfilled jobs relate to mold making, logistics and welding. Marchand says it's a priority for the chamber to find and train young people for these jobs. "When we have these types of jobs that are unfilled we're leaving economic opportunity, wealth, money ... on the table," he says. "That means we're not being as productive and as efficient as we can be here in Windsor-Essex."
Marchand says the chamber is working with local institutions to try and fill these jobs. "If you're a young person or want to get into that space -- there's opportunity right now," he says.