Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/70344
MB BIZ Chamber Chat HELP WANTED? TRY THIRDQUARTER OLDER, WISER, EXPERIENCED WORKERS MEET THEIR JOB MATCHES Skills count at ThirdQuarter. Since 2010, the service has helped employers tap into a valuable resource — mature workers — in small and mid- size communities from coast to coast. Now ThirdQuarter is expanding to urban centres, starting with Winnipeg, where it opened an office in May. Executive director Bill Smith says employers who register on the ThirdQuarter website are matched with a select pool of experienced workers whose skills meet their needs. Initiated by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, ThirdQuarter takes its name 2010 as a two-year pilot project in 14 communities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, with financial support from local chambers and the federal government. Most of the 3,000 jobs that have been posted on its website are in the sales and service category, but almost 40% are professional, supervisory or technical in nature. The service attracts mature workers of all stripes. Many are retired tradespeople or professionals who want to remain active in the community life experience. Mature workers may require less training and can act as mentors to younger co-workers. And they're often more flexible — in many cases they prefer to take part-time, seasonal or temporary jobs that can be hard to fill. Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president Graham Starmer has been pleasantly "astounded" by the program's success. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty invited Starmer and his team to discuss the project in Ottawa in 2011. It seems Flaherty was impressed by what he heard. His government has pledged $6 million over the next three years to support the service. Third Quarter staff play matchmaker between employers and mature workers. Photo credit:Darcy Finley from the idea that people who aim to reach the age of 100 are entering the third quarter of their lives at age 50. Smith says it aims to bring balance to the employment market by "encouraging a productive, multi- generational, diverse workforce." ThirdQuarter was launched in — and whose skills are an asset for businesses facing a work shortage as baby boomers reach retirement. Employers cite many benefits of hiring older workers. They tend to have a solid work ethic, more patience and empathy with customers and they come with problem-solving skills and valuable Along with the Winnipeg office, ThirdQuarter will open sites in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto this summer. It will expand across Manitoba and Prince Edward Island this year and will make further inroads in Quebec, Saskatchewan, the Maritimes and Northern Canada in 2013. There's no cost for workers to join ThirdQuarter. However, businesses pay a fee to post jobs. Smith is confident that revenues generated through job postings will make ThirdQuarter self-sufficient. "We are a non-profit entity whose future will, in time, no longer be dependent on funding support from sources like the federal government and various chambers of commerce." www.thirdquarter.ca MBiz June 2012 19