Adapting to change: Local employers focus on the future

Local business leaders address workforce challenges and tariffs at host the 2025 Workforce Connect Conference.

Business minds across the region came together in Severn Township on Thursday for the County of Simcoe’s 4th annual ‘Workforce Connect’ conference, where they discussed ways to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the current economic landscape.

“It’s an opportunity to educate employers and service providers in the area about local trends that are impacting the workforce,” said Ruth Walker Scott, County of Simcoe senior economic development officer.

Wednesday’s themes included navigating change, empowering talent for tomorrow, building and retaining a resilient workforce, cultivating workplace cultures that attract top talent and future-proofing talent strategy.

“To ensure that they are creating those really welcoming workplaces that help them attract and retain the workforce the they need,” added Walker Scott about the goal of the conference.

The more than 100 people in attendance learned from presentations delivered by industry experts and bounced ideas off each other throughout the day, sharing their professional advice and lessons they have learned.

“I think it was an excellent opportunity to express our vision as a business in Simcoe County, what we need and what to expect,” said conference panelist Dr. Mikhail Pliousnine with Simcoe Family Dentistry.

“Change is always going to happen,” said conference panelist Michael Agema, founder and CEO of AGEMA Work. “Be able to adapt to it.”

Among the main challenges discussed, of course, was tariffs and uncertainty.

Matthew Stewart, director in the economics and financial advisory group at Deloitte Canada, spoke about the impact of that uncertainty on local manufacturing.

“Forty per cent of all the jobs within the manufacturing sector are dependent on demand from the United States,” explained Stewart. “The economic impact from the tariffs are much larger in this economic region and we’re seeing the impact from delays in the battery investments, electric vehicles, and this is resulting in some layoffs within the economic region.”

“They’ve cut themselves off from a lot of the inputs that feed into their production,” continued Stewart. “We are seeing some benefit to the agriculture within the region if they can take advantage in places like China and Europe, where we’re now more competitive than the United States.”

With manufacturing being one of the main local sectors impacted by tariffs, County staff say they expect resilience and perseverance to be among the main themes of their upcoming annual Manufacturer’s Forum in November.