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(January 7, 2010 – Halifax, NS) After a year of economic ups and downs, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Economic Strategy Scorecard Report is a mixed story. The Chamber’s annual Scorecard measures 28 targets stemming from Halifax’s Economic Strategy.
“The results of the Chamber’s issues survey help to shape our priorities. Included in the top five concerns for business this year were attracting and retaining talent and increasing Nova Scotia’s population. The scorecard helps us track these issues” says Chamber president Valerie Payn. “Business have a right to be concerned. By 2013 there will be more jobs available in this province than people to fill them.”
“The scorecard has been measuring immigration levels in Halifax since 2004. Immigration is an important part of the population strategy, especially in metro. The immigration numbers are tracking well below target. There were 1952 new immigrants to Halifax in 2008, compared to the target of 2511.”
“On the training side, the picture is brighter,” says Payn. “This year, enrollment was up at metro universities and at NSCC campuses. The key now is not just to produce more students, but to produce more students with the right mix of skills in order to enhance our work force. For example, continues Payn, “We are still hearing from businesses that it’s tough to find employees with certain skills and”
As an independent observer of the Economic Strategy the Chamber’s scorecard was designed to measure the outcomes and targets set in Halifax’s Economic Strategy: Strategies for Success. The Halifax Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 4th annual Economic Strategy Scorecard Event on January 13th 2010 at Neptune Theatre.
For more information contact:
Janet Creamer
Communications Manager
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
902-481-1240
