work in london - an emerging leaders perspective

7/31/2019 Work in London - An Emerging Leaders Perspective

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Work in LondonAn Emerging Leaders Perspective

Work in London - An Emerging Leaders Perspective

Prepared by Sean Quigley, Executive Director, Emerging Leaders London Community Network - [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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What weve learned

Why?

Emerging Leaders was founded with a focus on attraction, retention, and en-gagement of the 20 to 44 year old demographic. We focused our questions onthe availability and quality of work and how likely was it that respondentswould choose to remain in London. This survey gives a valuable snapshot ofwhere we are as a city and how this demographic views working and stayingin London.

Learning - other sources

According to a 2007 LEDC report titled Londons Workforce - Historical Trends andForecast for the Future, London also significantly lacks people in the 15-24 years oldlabour force category. Our growth in this age group (-4.36%) is much lower than othercommunities. It goes on to say, It is logical to predict that if everything remains thesame, London will not have enough people to take up positions in the jobs vacated bythe retiring population.

We are aware the unemployment rate in London hovers around 8.6% but for the youthdemographic it is much higher, often 14%. As older members of our workforce were hitby the decline of the economy and were displaced from their jobs they sought employ-ment at lower levels of job entry. The greatest increase in employment is seen in the45+ demographic.

What we learned from this survey

Of the 280 respondents, 83.7% were between the ages of 20 and 44, and of these47.9% were between the ages of 30 to 44. We also know that the majority, 63.9%, had a

Bachelors degree or higher and that 58.4% of them had full time employment. While60% of respondents have full employment 21.6% are unemployed or underemployed,and 70.6% reported that it was somewhat or very difficult to find employment in thecareer of their choice in London. Of note is the 20.6% of respondents who said theywere not likely to remain in London in the next 10 years and the 36.5%who said theywere only somewhat likely to remain in London over the same time frame.


Work in London - An Emerging Leaders Perspective 1


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Qualitative Analysis - What else respondents wanted us to know

We asked respondents Is there anything else you want us to know about your workexperience in London? Overwhelmingly the comments reinforce the difficulty of findingwork in London, with a number of comments underlining that respondents leave London

for work opportunities in other cities.

We some of the recurrent themes were of low paying work, difficulty finding work unlessyou have a strong personal network, and the difficulty of moving beyond entry level andmid level management positions into more senior roles.

Of note were also the comments concerning difficulty finding work due to lack ofexperience. This would seem to reinforce the growth in segments of the older labourmarket and the success of the older demographic in finding work.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Emerging Leaders believes that the single greatest deterrent to sustained growth is theloss of talent amongst the 20 to 44 year old workforce in London. We recognize, as doothers, that there is an urgency around creating partnerships to keep and attract thiscritical demographic within London. Without this effort we will continue to underperformcompared to other cities in our area.

Over the summer Emerging Leaders will consult with Government, our communitypartners, and our membership to create options to partner and move forward. At ourAnnual General Meeting, September 13th 2012, we will announce the results of ourconsultation.

Note: The following pages contain the information collected from our survey




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Demographics of Respondents

Do you self-identify as male or female?

Male" " " 43.6%Female " " 56.4%

Which category below includes your age?

18-20"" " 7.4%21-29"" " 35.8%30-44"" " 47.9%45-50"" " 6.8%51-59"" " 2.1%60 or older" " 0%

How Long have you lived in London?

1-4 years" 24.9%" 5 to 10 years" 23.3%"11-25 years" 28%25+ years" 23.8%




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Education of RespondentsWhat is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?" Less than a High School Degree" " " " 0%" High School Degree or equivalent" " " " 7.4%" Some College but no degree" " " " " 10.5%" College Diploma/Degree" " " " " 18.4%" Bachelors Degree" " " " " " 39.5%" Graduate Degree" " " " " " 24.2%




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About Work

Which of the following categories best describes your employment status?

" Student" " " " " " " " 9.5%" Employed, part time, working 1-39 hours per week" " " " " 12.6%"" Employed, part time, working 40 or more hours per week "" " " 1.6%"" Employed, full time, working 40 or more hours per week " " 58.4%" Self Employed"" " " " " " " " 10.%" Not employed, looking for work " " " " " " 6.3%" Not employed, NOT looking for work"" " " " " " 1.1%" Retired"" " " " " " " " " 0%




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Do you work for more than one employer?" " " No" " " " " 78%" " " Yes, for 2 employers" " 18.3%" " " Yes, for 3 employers" " " 1.1%" " " Yes, for 4 or more employers"" 2.7%

How many different employers have you worked for in the last 10 years?

1 11.1%

2 to 4 60.5%

5 to 9 25.3%

10+ 3.2%\




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Are you working in the career of your choice?

Yes" " 60.1%"No" " 39.9%

Are you working in a related field to your preferred

career?

Yes" " " 66.7%No" " " 33.3%

Has it been difficult to find employment in your

field of choice in london?

Very difficult" " 34.8%Somewhat difficult"" 35.8%Not difficult"" " 29.4%




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Retention

How likely are you to remain in London in the next 10 years?

! ! Not L i ke l y! ! ! ! 20 . 6%! ! Somewhat L ike ly! ! !! 36 . 5%! ! Very L ike ly! ! 42 . 9%




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Comments

Is there anything else you want us to know about your work experience inLondon?

My work experience has been good...but simply because I created a company

that now employs 12 people. The process of starting and growing a business in

London was not made as easy as it is in other cities. If I weren't self-employed

it's highly unlikely that I'd be able to remain in London and find the type ofem-ployment that matches what I do now.

Sometimes the career you had planned isn't where you end up. That's life! I'vegot a good job, it's just not where I expected to be.

It's really tough to find a job in London, especially for a new grad! I got lucky and

only looked for a job for a few months when I finished school - finished mid-

March, got the job in mid-July - but I know a lot of people aren't as lucky as I am.

Whether or not I move in the next few years depends on where my boyfriend andI can find jobs once he graduates from the Computer Technology program at

Fanshawe.

My PT position is with a company in Toronto, and I only work 2 hrs/month. I'd be

considered underemployed as opposed to employed or unemployed.

The opportunities for growth and advancement is shrinking every year.

London is not very well equipped to handle tech startups. Many high paying tech

jobs will leave this area if something is not done. Waterloo is so close, they are

eating our lunch.




11/19

You need to work harder to make it appealing and worthwhile for Western stu-

dents to stay in London following graduation

It has been difficult to find employment based on the fact that I am an under-

graduate student. Employers are not interested in temporary hiring, so

gaining employment from a professional perspective doesn't exist in this city,

which makes it hard to supplement what you wish to pursue if you can't evengain experience in it. Then when you do graduate you have nothing to offer em-

ployers for history of working in that area. It's extremely frustrating and would be

reason to leave the city.

Finding anything beyond retail without having been to university is more difficult

than it should be.

it's been great. if young people can't find a job in their chosen, maybe they

should stop blaming other people and look at themselves.

I work on a casual, contract basis and am struggling to find permanent work, ei-

ther full or part time.

I came to London for the job, so for me it hasn't been difficult.

It's challenging to find employment in London at a decent wage. Most either only

use temps or pay below what a job is worth. This is something I encountered

prior to the economic downturn. Unfortunately this makes it less than appealing

for people to want to stay in London after earning a degree or diploma.

Employment in London is largely part time, contract or occasional. The numbers

of people who are unemployed or underemployed in London are astronomi-

cal;with agencies like the London Food Bank experiencing high demand that far

exceed the resources. If this is going to be the case in London, then the socialservices need to be reflective of these needs.




12/19

There needs to be more part-time job opportunities for student working part time

while in school. I would like to be able to find information about part-time work

available on campus (UWO).

London is probably one of the most difficult places to find a job; related or not.

Even just for summer employment. It took me 3 years and finding the job I did

was a fluke.

It is near impossible to find employment in London. I am a student who is cur-

rently unemployed and I can't wait to get out of this city so I actually have a

shot at getting a job. Everyone is looking for experienced workers, but no one is

willing to offer the opportunity. It is such a tragedy to see so many young people

looking for work and not succeeding. London needs to make this a focus, therehas to be change.

You might be able to find a job in the field of your choice but moving up the lad-

der in London takes longer than it would in larger job markets (i.e. Calgary,

Toronto). For that reason, I may have to leave London in order to advance my

career.

very hard to find entry level jobs in major organizations.

I know many people in their 20's early 30's who are leaving London for better

May 24, 2012 11:10 AM opportunities elsewhere. I am concerned that we are not

able to retain these skilled workers.

I do not currently work in London due to a lack of quality opportunities in my field.

Because of this, I have made professional connections elsewhere and will likely

not return for work.

I would leave London if I could afford to live in another major centre.




13/19

I wish there were more avenues for people in big organizations (which I've al-

ways been in) to connect with people in other fields, industries like

entrepreneurs and business owners in the private sector. I think there is a lot of

potential to share insight from the two different areas.

There are some small businesses in London that want to take advantage of re-

cent graduate by offering freelance or part-time work for a substantially low

wage. Graduates should be made more aware about what is fair.

I found a job immediately after I finished my maters degree. I had multiple em-

ployment offers and no trouble finding meaningful work.

I have been told many times that I do not have enough experience for a job, or

that I am over qualified for a job. To me, it does not matter - as long as I have a

job and can pay my bills!

Just got a job after 2 years of looking and connecting with potential employers. It

is a contract position in my field but with a family to support I couldn't be tooselective. In my field there have been numerous layoffs in the past few years and

the London labour market has proven to be a real challenge.

Try and find ways to break to barriers of the old boys clubs that rule this city. May

Help those with the creativity and passion to try new things/ventures to have

access to ways to move their visions ahead.

Looking for a job in London has proven very difficult. I may have had better luckelsewhere and am likely going to relocate in the next 3 months.




14/19

London is all about networking. Those who are successful in finding their ideal

work are ones who work very hard to build connections and meet people to

share their ideas, seek advice and connections and learn about opportunities

through networking. I fine people in the community very kind and supportive in-

helping people make connections. I think there are lots of opportunities availablehowever people don't always advertise them - all word of mouth. As an organiza-

tion, helping people build their capacity in networking would be invaluable. Also,

there are so many thriving and growing small, independent businesses that do

employ people. However, hiring is done through word of mouth. Doing something

with a pnael of small business people who can provide tips to those seeking em-

ployment would be amazing. In these situations, the business might not be able

to hire people into ft roles but would consider contracting people. Example - in

my business I hire the services of 5 people who contract with me as required.

The world of how people can work is changing dramatically so painting the pic-

ture of this would be a gift to those seeking work in their "ideal" field. There arealso lots of people who have held traditional jobs and then set out on their own.

Doing some sessions on what it takes to do this would also be a huge gift to

people seeking jobs. I think people might benefit from learning how to move to-

wards making your own work and building the credibility required to be seen as a

trusted service provider to others.

I came to London after working in Toronto - came back to London because my

wife and I wanted to start a family and buy an affordable house.

It's very hard to find work unless you know someone in London

I was fortunate to obtain an internship with my present employer between the

first and second year of my graduate degree. I believe that experience is one of

the main reasons for my current position with the same employer.

If you can't find the job you're looking for...create it for yourself. Also, get out

there and get involved with your community and it's organizations.




15/19

Small business means nothing to city hall. Local leaders are short sighted and

don't know how to get out of the way. I'll take my business and home out of the

city at the first opportunity.

I went into my family business and will be buying my parents out over time so my

employment choice and opportunities are very stable. I do feel that educated,

qualified individuals do not have good employment opportunities anywhere right

now. Most employment opps are for less skilled people like reception/admin.

Based on what others have experienced I am aware my situation is unique, as

most people I've spoke with do not find employment easily, particularly if they

are a professional who are new to London or a recent grad.

I am a Sales Manager recently promoted to a provincial role that is typically ran

out of the GTA. I was given the opportunity to do the job without relocating

because of my history with the company. It is difficult to find senior management

roles in my industry in the London area as it is seen as a regional hub, andstep-ping stone, as opposed to somewhere to develop a career and establish routes.

Very difficult to find middle management jobs or above, very easy to find entry

level jobs.

Great initiative!! There seems to be a real disconnect between those who want

jobs and those who are trying to fill them. Partnerships with local HR

associations (eg Strategic Capabilities Network - see Jen Denys) and industry

assoc's (eg TechAlliance) could be really beneficial. Also - advocacy for on-the-

job training, employer driven (not school driven) internship and co-op programs,

and career-builder peer to peer programs could all be valuable. Good luck!

When London hires outside of London-it is discouraging. We are a city full of tal-

ent and experience and should grow and promote our own Londoners.




16/19

Making a career change is difficult. I would like to make a company change and

advance my career to a more senior management position but am finding Lon-

don to be a closed, who-do-you-know type city. Its extremely difficult to get to

decision-makers of the companies and those hiring (i.e. HR)are not skilled atre-cruitment practices.

I been to many on the employment centres, but they do not seem to work with

each other, and their information on job fields outside the basic entry jobs is very

low.

My position has not always been essential in difficult times, so I have made my-

self invaluable by learning pieces of my co-workers' jobs, so that I am a jackof all trades. I also continue to further my education to align with identified gaps

within my organization.

Out of my graduating MA class, only two people stayed in London - we both had

family commitments here. Everyone else needed to leave in order to find a job.

London is a very tight economy and hard to break into initially. There are a lot of

opportunities available but you have to be very focused and patient to find theright thing (and it may take years). It's worth it in the end though!

Lots of potential and work in London.




17/19

I am in a skilled trade --machinist, tool and die and employers say they are

starving for these trades. Very few advertise for positions, talked to all machine

shops and they are not hiring or have closed and those that may hire do not

want to fairly compensate employees - paying slightly above minimum wage for-

shift work and often have to supervise on night shift is not fair compensation. Iwent back to school to retrain for this trade about 10 years ago and graduated

with honours at the top of my class in Fanshawe and did not seem to make a dif-

ference. I am seriously considering going to work out west where I can put my

skills to use and be fairly compensated.

It is very difficult to keep young talent in London, especially recent grads. I am

not sure what the answer is to improving this but it is something that needs

attention drawn to.

As a knowledge worker that seeks out creative workplaces, I feel I do have more

opportunities here than I would if I were a skilled manufacturing worker. My

husband has been out of work twice in the last 4 years and has been able to find

work quickly (within 6 weeks) given his technical/knowledge work orientation, aswell. The type of work makes a big difference in terms of opportunity here, I

think, so our experience is clearly not representative of the rest of our community

given the local unemployment rate.

Going back to school to get my post-grad made all the difference - was able to

intern in my field and get a job from there.

I live in London, but I work for a Toronto company. 100% telecommute. I have

never actually had to try to find work in London. I did put some resumes out

there a couple years ago, but got no bites, so I wouldn't say it was easy to find

employment here.

Experience is hard to come by. As a recent graduate it is difficult to get a job in

the field you want, because everyone wants someone with experience. No one is

willing to take a chance




18/19

I can only find short term contracts, no benefits, no vacation. There isn't much to

choose from here in London. I can foresee myself moving to another city for

more opportunities. London should be doing more to retain young, highly edu-

cated individuals.

I have been fortunate to answer question 10 the way I did because I have been

in my position for the past eight years and haven't been looking. That said,

things may have changed now - I was fortunate to move into this position shortly

after moving (back) to London.

London is a dying city. Its country-leading cheap housing market, lack of non-

McJob opportunities for uni / coll graduates and ready access to health care isslowly turning London into a mecca for seniors / retirees. Good luck leading

change with that demographic reality.

Networking, networking, networking!

I moved to London in Dec of 2010, I have a professional background in commu-

nications, being a former business partner and manager in a firm in

Ottawa for over 10 years. I made a choice to transition into the non profit sector.I have completed a non profit management course and have made a concertedeffort to participate as a volunteer and become involved in the professional asso-

ciations like LRFE. I understand the importance of establishing a base of con-

tacts through networking. I hope my efforts prove successful and I have full- time

employment soon!

I have hit a ceiling in terms of career advancement in my field and may need to

leave to move beyond my current level of responsibility




19/19

I owe my success to date by having the privilege of having a strong business

network and establishing that with some luck at the start. I realize this isn't the

norm and I understand there is difficulty getting connected - which in itself is a

barrier to meaningful employment. I also see that there is a deep dividebetweenbaby boomers and the new generation and a failure to see the new realities of"work" which includes work/life balance and finding meaning in one's work. The

older generation doesn't seem to understand that young people want to work for

employers that "get this" and offer more than a salary.

Watch your back. Londoners treat their community like a high school club and if

you're in, you're in and if you're out, you suffer.

need more jobs for youth aged 16 to 25 to help get started

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