On March 16, the Garcelon Civic Center in St. Stephen, New Brunswick will play host to the Charlotte County Job Connection, an event aimed at connecting local employers with job seekers and those looking for a change of career. Ahead of the event, Stephen MacKnight, Charlane Hatt, and Brad Henderson sat down with CHCO-TV's Vicki Hogarth to discuss the event and its goals.

Stephen MacKnight, a board member of Charlotte County Job Connection as well as the Work Room Coordinator at for Anglophone School District South, said that many local businesses in Charlotte County are struggling to find qualified workers and that the event was designed to help bridge that gap.

MacKnight emphasized that the Job Connection was open to everyone, regardless of their background or experience level. He noted that the event would include a mix of businesses from different industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality. Job seekers would have the opportunity to meet with employers, learn about available positions, and even interview for jobs on the spot.

Charlane Hatt, also a board member of Charlotte County Job Connection as well as an employee of the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission, echoed MacKnight's comments about the importance of connecting local businesses with qualified workers. She noted that many businesses in the area were experiencing a "skills gap," where they were struggling to find workers with the right training or experience for certain positions.

Brad Henderson, the director of Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews, also spoke to the importance of the Job Connection for his organization when it comes to finding employees for the busy summer months. He said the job fair is an important annual event for Kingsbrae to attend to find the right employees for the tourism season in Southwest New Brunswick.

The group also discussed some of the challenges facing job seekers in Charlotte County and other rural areas. Henderson noted that one of the biggest challenges was simply finding available jobs, particularly in industries that are not traditionally associated with rural areas.

MacKnight added that transportation could also be a barrier for some job seekers, particularly those who live in more remote areas. He noted that the St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce had been working to address this issue by providing transportation services to events like the Job Connection by using Charlotte Dial-A-Ride. There is also notably free on-site child care available at the job fair.

Despite the current challenges facing the local workforce, the group remained optimistic about the future of job opportunities in Charlotte County. Hatt noted that there were a number of industries that were experiencing growth in the area. She also highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs in order to create new job opportunities.

Overall, the group emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing the workforce needs of the Charlotte County region. They noted that events like the Job Connection were just one piece of a larger puzzle, and that continued efforts were needed to support both local businesses and workers in the area. For those who can't attend Charlotte County Job Connection 2023 in-person at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen, there is also an online job fair, as well as more information available, at careersthatwork.ca.