Vital Signs Article #4

VITAL SIGNS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON CITY'S ECONOMY
Published Monday September 1st, 2008
Appeared on Page A1
By Shawn Berry

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a weekly series that will focus on the Fredericton Community Foundation's first Vital Signs report to be released in October.

Jobs may be the ultimate indicator of a community's vibrancy. And the Fredericton Community Foundation is looking at employment growth as it prepares its first Vital Signs report.

"We often hear that Fredericton is the place to be. This will tell us," said Cindy Sheppard, executive director of the Fredericton Community Foundation.

Employment growth is one of 11 key indicators the Fredericton Community Foundation is looking at as it prepares to release the community's first Vital Signs report next month. In the end, the economic engine plays an important role in setting the pulse of the community.

"It's just to let us know if the economy is growing here, if it is stable here, if there are new jobs being created," Sheppard said.

Don Fitzgerald, executive director of Team Fredericton, the city's economic development office, said there are good signs out there. "I continue to be surprised at the number of establishments I go into with help-wanted signs. It makes me think the focus right now is on availability of workforce, not availability of jobs," he said.

According to a Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey published in August, there were 105,200 people living in the Fredericton-Oromocto region in July. A total of 69,800 were employed, with 3,800 unemployed and actively searching for work. Fitzgerald said he's anxious to see the community foundation's final report and the results of a 54-point survey it conducted.

"I'm very much looking forward to the report to see what areas we can focus on, there are always challenges to respond to. We are looking at all of those things,'' he said. "We are interested in all of the data that will come out. It's a great thing that the foundation is looking at, looking at the broad community in all sectors."

Anthony Knight, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said the exercise is an important one. He said Fredericton has an unemployment rate below five per cent, which is considered good. The aim should be on helping those in need do better, he said.

"I think it's not so much a question of creating employment, but helping people who might need skills training, who need help with literacy, and who need better skills training to fulfil their full potential."

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	Vital Signs Article #4 VITAL SIGNS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON CITY'S ECONOMY Published Monday September 1st, 2008 Appeared on Page A1 By Shawn Berry Editor's note: This is the fourth in a weekly series that will focus on the Fredericton Community Foundation's first Vital Signs report to be released in October. Jobs may be the ultimate indicator of a community's vibrancy. And the Fredericton Community Foundation is looking at employment growth as it prepares its first Vital Signs report. "We often hear that Fredericton is the place to be. This will tell us," said Cindy Sheppard, executive director of the Fredericton Community Foundation. Employment growth is one of 11 key indicators the Fredericton Community Foundation is looking at as it prepares to release the community's first Vital Signs report next month. In the end, the economic engine plays an important role in setting the pulse of the community. "It's just to let us know if the economy is growing here, if it is stable here, if there are new jobs being created," Sheppard said. Don Fitzgerald, executive director of Team Fredericton, the city's economic development office, said there are good signs out there. "I continue to be surprised at the number of establishments I go into with help-wanted signs. It makes me think the focus right now is on availability of workforce, not availability of jobs," he said. According to a Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey published in August, there were 105,200 people living in the Fredericton-Oromocto region in July. A total of 69,800 were employed, with 3,800 unemployed and actively searching for work. Fitzgerald said he's anxious to see the community foundation's final report and the results of a 54-point survey it conducted. "I'm very much looking forward to the report to see what areas we can focus on, there are always challenges to respond to. We are looking at all of those things,'' he said. "We are interested in all of the data that will come out. It's a great thing that the foundation is looking at, looking at the broad community in all sectors." Anthony Knight, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said the exercise is an important one. He said Fredericton has an unemployment rate below five per cent, which is considered good. The aim should be on helping those in need do better, he said. "I think it's not so much a question of creating employment, but helping people who might need skills training, who need help with literacy, and who need better skills training to fulfil their full potential."
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