The pandemic knocked women’s participation in the labour force to its lowest level in 30 years. So, what does the future for these and other women look like now?
According to a report prepared by RBC in July 2020, as many as 1.5 million women in Canada lost their jobs in the first two months after the country virtually shut down in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. And, we know now that many of those women have been slow to return to the workforce.
It’s been dubbed the “she-cession,” and it’s happening beyond Canada too. Countries around the world have been noting an increasing number of women quitting their jobs and a decrease in the number of jobs in many female-dominated industries.
Plenty of experts have proposed a wide variety of ways to help women get back into the workforce. More inclusive policies and support programs, workforce development initiatives and more support for entrepreneurship, and upskilling and retraining have all been proposed as different and complementary solutions to the labour gap that exists.
For those who are thinking about upgrading their skills or retraining for a new role, we can help. Here are a few interesting courses we’re offering in the coming weeks and months:
- Leadership and Management for Women: We designed this course to specifically support women seeking leadership roles and to address the unique challenges women face in the workplace. Our next offering is Nov. 22.
- Certified Local Change Agent: The times, they are a-changin’. If you want to be prepared to lead the change, we have a variety of programs to help you become a change manager. The next offering of Certified Local Change Agent begins Nov. 29.
- Lean White Belt: Mastering lean is all about doing more with less — and what could be more fitting for the times we live in? Our next offering of Lean White Belt, the introductory level of lean certification, is Aug. 24.
Training might not be affordable right now for someone who has lost their job. However, government funding supports such as the Canada-Ontario Job Grant remain available. Employers or prospective employers can apply for grants to help partially — and in some cases fully — cover the cost to train or retrain women seeking to re-enter the workforce.
To get started or for more information, contact us at training@algonquincollege.com or 613-727-7729.