‘Everything is going up but your wages remain the same’: Nonprofits struggling to hire and retain workers
A new report from Pillar Nonprofit Network and the Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board (EMOWPDB) found local businesses were slightly improving in their recovery over the last year while nonprofits are struggling.
Data collected from the regional EmployerOne Survey in January of this year showed that nonprofits have found it difficult to hire and retain qualified workers.
“The data shows that local nonprofit organizations are having real difficulty offering stable, well-compensated work,” said Paul Seale, manager of Public Policy, Advocacy, and Impact for Pillar Nonprofit Network. “As a major employer and economic driver in our region and a major social driver, a struggling nonprofit sector will likely slow recovery for the whole region.”
The new report found that 65 per cent of nonprofit employers reported much higher rates of employees quitting and permanent layoffs compared to businesses.
In addition, nonprofits found the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impacts as a factor in retaining workers.
“It's been extremely challenging for recruitment and retention,” said John McVeigh, manager of accommodations with Community Living London, Ont., a nonprofit that assists people with developmental disabilities.
According to McVeigh, the organization lost 30 per cent of its workforce during the pandemic.
“But we’re always looking to grow and expand and there’s a huge wait list of people that needs supports which requires growth in your staff and not just keeping what you have,” he explained.
With less funding coming in, many nonprofit employers are having difficulty offering stable work with a higher salary to new or current employees.
“It's not just our operating costs rising but personal costs. My staff, their rent goes up, their grocery bill goes up, everything is going up,” said Deborah Armstrong, programs director at Nokee Kwe, an indigenous-led employment and education centre. “And yet, our funding remains the same and wages remain the same.”
The executive director for the EMOWPDB hopes this data will show local governments the need for economic recovery in the sector.
“With local unemployment rates at record lows, the region has a very competitive labour market. Any imbalance in organizations’ ability to compete will likely exacerbate current trends,” said Emilian Siman, executive director at EMOWPDB.
“This year’s data suggests that there are organizations in every sector that are challenged to meet their workforce needs, but while more businesses might be reaching that ‘cautious optimism’ stage we associate with pandemic recovery, more nonprofits are reporting real difficulties,” said Siman.
“I think we need to people to understand there needs to be investment in the sector in organizational costs and core costs,” Seale said. “But we’re optimistic.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.