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There were approximately 295,000 unfilled full and part-time private sector jobs in Canada during the first quarter, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). “As the economy has improved and unemployment has come down, companies, particularly smaller companies, have struggled to fill open jobs,” said Ted Mallett, CFIB’s chief economist and vice-president. “While unfilled jobs may seem harmless, they represent missed opportunity for business and the economy.” The highest vacancy rates (4.2 per cent) were found in businesses with fewer than 19 employees and the lowest rates (1.6 per cent) belonged to businesses with 500 or more employees.

Recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program could make it more difficult for smaller companies to find the staff they need. “Smaller businesses structurally have higher vacancy rates,” said Mallet. “The TFW program has been one way for these businesses to fill openings that they could not fill otherwise. Ironically, it was problems at larger firms that prompted changes to the program, yet it is smaller companies with legitimate challenges that will bear the brunt of the impacts.” The Canadian construction industry holds the highest vacancy rate (3.6 per cent) out of all of the sectors, but it is declining. The highest vacancy rate in Canada belongs to Saskatchewan (3.9 per cent) and Prince Edward Island has the lowest (1.5 per cent), Ontario sits in the middle of the pack at around 2.1 per cent.
 

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Calling all customers: prepare to lighten your wallets. St. John's has recently become the birthing ground for an innovation in customer loyalty.  Local entrepreneur and business graduate Matthew Stenback, 24, has teamed up with marketing graduate Adam Puddicombe, 23, to launch Brownie Points, a free online application that acts like a virtual punch card, building engagement between local businesses and their customers Like most apps, the main objective is to make the complicated simple. It eliminates the endless stream of plastic reward cards by creating one centralized online platform that works efficiently with today's ubiquitous mobile devices Each business that signs up with Brownie Points becomes part of the network. They receive a tablet computer, which sits beside the cash register and acts like a scanner. When a customer buys a product, they simply open the app on their smartphone, scan the code and collect points to receive rewards.

Alternatively, those who don't have smartphones receive a Brownie Points card, which also connects them to the online hub. "The idea is that you're giving people a sense of progress," says Stenback. "The fact that you feel like you're earning something gives you this additional goal or reason to do it." The primary motive, he says, is to create communities for local businesses across Canada - a series of networks linking independent business owners to their dedicated clientele. "I've always really loved the local shop scene and wanted to open my own store," he says. "With my experience in design and development, I realized this was the perfect way to leverage my passion with my skill."

 

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The biggest spike in wages and activity in Newfoundland and Labrador's workforce is among the young. Beth Macdonell interviews some of them.

The mayor of St. Anthony says a shortage of surgeons at the local hospital is bordering on a crisis. In a statement, Mayor Ern Simms said two of the surgeons will be gone in June and a third is leaving in January. Labrador-Grenfell Health officials said two of the surgeons simply plan to leave the area, while the other is retiring. Simms said he fears the status of Curtis Memorial Hospital will be downgraded and patients will have to travel to Corner Brook or St. John's for treatment. Simms said the three surgeons performed about 2,000 procedures in 2012 Labrador-Grenfell Health said recruitment efforts to replace the surgeons have been underway for several weeks.
 

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced today that the turning point project, "Ready to Reboot", submitted by local businesswoman Sarah Lynn Russell will represent Newfoundland and Labrador in the finals of the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. Sarah's project aims to automate Distinctive Interiors' conventional processes and spur growth in a hot housing market. She'll need a resounding show of support from voters near and far to take home the $100,000 grand prize! Originally a manufacturer of pine mouldings for the wholesale market, the company expanded into retail, diversifying its locally sourced and manufactured products to include stair components, cabinetry, hardwood flooring and interior doors. With a repositioned brand, Distinctive Interiors has reached a critical juncture and needs the right technology to deliver on multiple projects in the works. "A proper inventory control and manufacturing software system will help streamline and speed up our processes, which will shorten wait times and help our team better respond to customer needs," Sarah Lynn explains. "There's a big demand for wood products and lots of room for us to grow in Newfoundland's booming housing market."

A mechanical engineer by profession, Sarah Lynn signed on full- time in 2009 to manage the company's day-to-day operations. She made the leap to ownership in 2011, allowing her father, the company founder, to complete the business transition and retire. While she harbours some of her dad's adventurous spirit, Sarah Lynn's big dreams for the business are deeply grounded in reality. "We have a solid reputation to build on, and technology will help solidify and grow our market presence," she adds. "It will also make our team's efforts a lot easier. Our employees work extremely hard to keep up with demand and their dedication is a big part of how far we've come." "All the finalists competing for the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award presented sound turning point solutions that could provide a solid springboard for future growth and success," says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. "Sarah and her company stand out as a vital part of their community, creating jobs and supporting local economic development."
 

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