Unemployed and underemployed workers in the Windsor area could be getting a major boost.
A company called Palette Inc. received federal funding to help people in Windsor-Essex transition to the new digital economy. The new funding will upskill workers and help them get into the new labour market. Palette said the labour market is changing because technology is changing and workers need retraining to transition to new industries and start new careers.
FedDev Ontario announced on Tuesday that it will provide up to $5 million to Palette Inc. to help mid-career workers affected by restructuring and downsizing in traditional industries in southern Ontario.
Palette addresses the gap between unemployed or underemployed mid-career workers and the talent needs of fast-growing firms in knowledge sectors such as information technology, advanced manufacturing, and digital media. The company added its most recent upskilling program successfully secured job offers for over 80 per cent of its participants within their target industry in less than eight weeks of the program ending.
"We're creating new pathways for mid-career workers to use their existing skills and talents to access new opportunities in the digital economy," said AJ Tibando, executive director of Palette. "Today's funding announcement will allow Palette to expand its impact by targeting and upskilling displaced or underemployed workers to meet the talent needs of fast-growing companies in southern Ontario."
Palette said it will help to fill 220 jobs and support up to 100 companies in the Windsor-Essex and Durham regions over the next three years.
"Palette is a world-leader in developing innovative strategies for transitioning mid-career workers threatened by automation into high-potential careers, and we look forward to bringing our model into Southern Ontario communities," noted Arvind Gupta, chair of Palette's Board of Directors.
Click here to learn more about Palette.