Workforce Development Board

Hiring internationally can feel like a maze of paperwork and programs, and most employers don't need to become immigration experts, they just need to know where to start.

That's the idea behind Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting International Workers: An Employers' Toolkit.

A free in person or virtual webinar we're hosting in partnership with the New Canadians Centre and the Town of Cobourg Economic Development.

Guest speaker Carmela Valles, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), will walk employers, HR professionals, and business leaders through a practical framework for supporting international workers at every stage of the employment journey.

She'll talk about things like where to find reliable information, how to connect with local immigration resources, and what to consider when hiring and supporting international talent.

This isn't a deep dive into any one program's fine print. It's a starting point for employers who want to know where to go next.

👉 Register here: https://pulse.ly/2kokosgkms

We're proud to join communities across the province in celebrating Rural Ontario Week.

This week recognizes the people, businesses and one-of-a-kind places that make rural Ontario an important part of Ontario's success and a great place to live, work and grow.

WDB is very pleased to support the communities we serve in our catchment area of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton and Peterborough.

Celebrating community, economy and opportunity.

Happy employees aren't just nicer to have, they're actually more engaged, more productive, and less likely to burn out.

That's the idea behind International Week of Happiness at Work, running September 21–25. And the good news is, you don't need a big budget to take part.

The free toolbox on their website is full of simple, low-lift ideas like a gratitude board, a team lunch, or just checking in with your team more often.

👉 Browse the toolbox: https://pulse.ly/x4vo3hta4h

What's one small thing that would make your workplace a little happier?

You don't need to do deep research to find out our next career move - we've done the digging for you.

Download the free Eye on the Labour Market Report to find out the top 10 in demand jobs & skills across Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton County, and Kawartha Lakes.

Grab it on our website.

Last week our CEO, Jennifer Lamantia, took the stage at the 2026 Ontario East Municipal Conference in Ottawa.

She co-presented with Sarah Haase from Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services on a question that matters to every employer in our region:

How do we build employment programming that actually responds to what employers need?

Jennifer walked through the local labour market research and data we track here at WDB (the same information that shapes our reports and tools).

Sarah followed with a look at innovative programs built around mental health, inclusivity, changing demographics, and employability skills.

Together, the session made the case that the best employment services start with real data, not guesswork.

We were also glad to be part of the broader conference, which brought together municipal leaders, economic development professionals, and workforce experts from across Eastern Ontario, including a session on how the proposed Alto high-speed rail line could shape the region's economic future.

The numbers are in! Labour Force Survey results show a 7.0% unemployment rate in August, up 0.2% from July (seasonally adjusted three-month moving average).

Comparable Ontario and national rates were 6.9% (no change) and 6.5% (no change) respectively.

News reports typically look at monthly data, showing 6.9% (up 0.1) for Ontario and 6.4% (no change) nationally in August.

Last call to register for our free webinar!

AI Foundations for Safe, Productive Use will cover the basics (what generative AI and large language models actually are),

And then move into real, low-risk ways to put them to work right away.

By the end, you'll be able to apply AI to at least two everyday tasks, like summarizing meetings, drafting emails, or briefing documents, all using non-sensitive content.

🗓️ Wednesday, September 16 at 8:30 a.m.

👉 Register here: https://pulse.ly/7gqwmv4p4o

When people hear "literacy," they usually picture books, but in the workplace, it looks different.

It's reading a job posting and understanding what's actually being asked.
Filling out an application.
Following a safety manual.
Making sense of a pay stub or a shift schedule.

September 8 is International Literacy Day (UNESCO's 60th year marking it), under the theme "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity."

Worldwide, an estimated 739 million youth and adults still lack basic literacy skills. It's more common than most workplaces talk about.

👉 If this is something you or someone you know is navigating, whether you're job searching or running a team, reach out to us. We can connect you with local literacy and skills-building supports.

Source: UNESCO

You’re not the only one who’s thought about using AI in your business and stopped there.

But what if you could use it in a safe way that allowed you to be more productive?

Imagine you could hand off things like drafting emails, summarizing meetings, or prepping a document brief.

That’s exactly what we’re covering in a free live webinar on Wednesday, September 16 at 8:30 a.m., with Simcoe Muskoka Skillforce and Muskoka–Kawarthas Employment Services.

AI Foundations for Safe, Productive Use walks you through the basics of generative AI and large language models, then gets practical: you’ll leave knowing how to apply AI to at least two everyday tasks, safely, using non-sensitive content.

👉 Register here: https://pulse.ly/pkrod1xwoo