Participants spoke of the importance of collecting and disseminating timely, accurate labour market information to help all stakeholders in their planning and decision-making.
Participants called for a complete redefinition and restructuring of the E.I. program, with a focus on making the program more flexible and client-centred.
Participants often highlighted that business, government, educators and others are unaware of the gaps between market needs and available skills. The challenge, they said, is to strike a better balance between the supply of workers and the needs of labour market in order to build a balanced labour market strategy, thus avoiding peaks and valleys.
Those at the dialogue spoke of the importance of collecting and disseminating timely, accurate labour market information to help all stakeholders in their planning and decision-making. This included not only governments and businesses, but also youth, school counsellors, parents, and others who do not know which educational or career choices to make, where the opportunities are today or where they are projected to be in the future.
Participants noted that while forecasting is very difficult, it is also crucial. In addition, they indicated that because PEI is so small, it is very difficult to get reliable data, forcing people to rely on Statistics Canada data, which is often not granular enough. As a result, participants highlighted the need for PEI-specific information and suggested that sector councils will play a role here. Finally, they stated that relevant, timely, and accurate labour market information would be a by-product of effective stakeholder coordination and communication.
Throughout the dialogue, the federal Employment Insurance program generated much discussion among participants, whether it was about its impact on the seasonal economy or more creative uses of the E.I. fund.
For example, many felt that the seasonal economy is, to a certain degree, underpinned or, as some said, "subsidized" by the federal E.I. program. This has become a structural issue, they said, because E.I. is perceived by many to be a guaranteed income program instead of being a true insurance program. This has in turn created a culture of entitlement, they added, with many people work "to get their stamps" over the summer and live off E.I. in the winter. However, other participants were quick to point out that this view, while widely held and true in some cases, could not be generalized to all seasonal workers - many of whom would prefer full-time work if they could access it. They also said that access to supports and programs for those who wish to improve their situation can be very difficult.
With respect to the use of E.I. funds, participants repeatedly wondered why the program's surplus could not be used more creatively for training initiatives or to help small businesses, for example. As one participant put it: "What is the cost [to the federal government] of not training?"
As a result, participants called for a complete redefinition and restructuring of the E.I. program, emphasizing that while a strong national program was required, this review should involve greater provincial/local control and involvement as "one size does not fit all". Participants stressed here that the province needs to recognize its responsibility and show leadership with input from business, educational institutions, and communities. Participants also provided numerous suggestions as to possible enhancements to the E.I. program, most of which were focused on making the program more flexible and client-centred.