How employers can bolster Indigenous hiring

Half of organizations in the Northern and remote regions of Canada are struggling to hire Indigenous workers despite actively recruiting from the talent base, a new report from the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) suggests.

A survey of 176 private, public and non-profit employers in Canada’s provincial regions showed three in five organizations are making an effort to employ Indigenous talent. The CBoC, however, identified three barriers to recruitment:

• The shortage of available Indigenous talent
• The job seekers’ lack of education or training credentials
• The job seekers’ lack of technical or job-related skills

“Hiring Indigenous employees makes good business sense – particularly within the context of Northern and remote Canada,” said Stefan Fournier, Associate Director, Northern and Aboriginal Policy.

On one hand, employers are looking to bolster their workforce with new hires. On the other, Indigenous workers in these regions are looking for stable and meaningful work, the board said.

The CBoC is encouraging employers to partner with Indigenous communities to identify potential hires and develop their talent through mentorship and career planning, and to devise new hiring practices to accommodate Indigenous communities.

Apart from updating their recruitment strategy, workplaces can also benefit from conducting cultural awareness and inclusivity trainings, the CBoC said.

“Organizations must continuously adjust and evolve their policies and practices to be more inclusive and supportive of the talents and skills that Indigenous people bring to the workplace,” Fournier said.