The Employers’ Council is pleased with changes made to some federal government programs designed to help workers and employers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses across the country, especially those in the service industry, are reporting a labour crunch—made worse by the pandemic.

Help Wanted signs can be seen posted outside restaurants and other retail businesses across the province.

In St. Anthony, there were fears that the local Subway would have to shut down at the end of the month due to a shortage of employees.

A recent Facebook post generated some interest from foreign workers already working in the community.

Executive Director of the Employers Council, Richard Alexander says there’s no doubt that certain benefits programs put in place to help those who had lost employment due to COVID-19, needed to be updated to better reflect current circumstances.

Meanwhile a spokesperson with the Subway restaurant in St. Anthony tells VOCM News a number of things, including CERB, have come against businesses in the region, but the most pressing problem is the area’s aging population.

He says a lot of young people leave the area when they finish school, leaving very few young workers to fill local job vacancies.