Find the Employees You Need
We serve as an extension of your HR team, making direct and
meaningful connections to grow your company through a stable,
skilled, and supported workforce.
Serving all employers in Erie, Huron & Ottawa Counties, our connections
span our labor shed, from Cleveland to Toledo, and the resources we can
access go beyond that. Utilize our team as your company’s concierge for in-
depth data services, workforce/training grant connection, strategic recruiting
methods, employment barrier solutions and all the connections and
resources you need.
Join Our Employer Resource Network!
Employer Resource Networks® are private-public consortia whose purpose is improved workforce retention through employee support and training. We’re excited to partner with ERN Ohio to grow our first network dediated to supporting our workforce with resources and services including childcare, transporation, financial assitance, housing and more.
Employer Services
Grow our region’s economy by connecting a stable skilled and supported labor force to meaningful and sustaining employment.
Recruiting & Placement
We utilize our regional network and resources to head hunt for you. We help with marketing of job descriptions, access to LinkedIn Recruiter, direct connection to graduating seniors (college & High School) and more.
Data Services
Utilize Firelands Forward access to extensive labor market data to make informed decisions in your hiring process. We conduct wage analysis, job description comparables, and more in-depth, custom data services.
Resource Connection
In today’s workforce system there are an abundance of technical and financial resources available for your company. Firelands Forward can serve as your “concierge” in navigating and applying for all kinds of workforce and training grants. Also utilize our deep connections across trade groups and young professionals groups to see what further opportunities may be awaiting you.
Front Line Retention Work Group
Low wage frontline workers often face challenges securing supports such as childcare and transportation which enable them to be productive employees which can prevent them from advancing into higher paying roles with more stability.
This Work Group will work to improve the connection to and use of supportive services by low frontline workers and development of intentional pathways to advancement for qualified frontline workers which lead to higher wages in targeted industries in the Firelands region.
Current Projects
Projects should serve frontline workers, with a focus on those earning wages $25,000 or less. Additionally, the Work Group should select a subset of industries to focus on which have advancement opportunities for frontline workers and/or pay a regionally defined living wage. All projects developed by the Working Group will focus on residents of and businesses who have locations within Erie and Huron counties.
Helping You Find the Employees You Need Now and in the Future.
Firelands Forward Strategic Plan
Covering a three year time horizon, 2020-2023, and developed with vast community input, the Firelands Forward Workforce Development Plan is designed to improve job skills, fulfillment, and retention. The Plan frames and builds coordination and collaboration across education, job training, and other supportive services to drive economic growth. It includes accountable and measurable solutions for improving the workforce.
Working to Solve Our Turnover Challenge
As a region – and a nation – we face the issue of high labor force turnover rates. Workers, especially those in lower-income professions, are leaving their jobs often, and this is causing instability for both employees and employers. What can we do about it? Read our white paper on the causes and effects of turnover, and reach out to our team to discuss your insights and needs!
The Child Care Survey
Childcare is a huge employment barrier. We partnered with the Child Care Resource Center to complete a Child Care Study throughout the Firelands Region. We invite you to read the study and join us in the conversation to solve this barrier in your workplace. As a region, we must collaborate to face these issues head-on.