Programs put in place to help people whose employment was affected by COVID restrictions are adding to the labour shortage being experienced by employers across the province according to one local business group.

There are reports from throughout the province of businesses that have had to reduce their hours and make other adjustments because they simply can’t get people to fill open positions.

Executive Director of the NL Employers’ Council , Richard Alexander says Newfoundland and Labrador is already facing a demographic crunch with a population which is aging and shrinking and the programs offered, while necessary when COVID hit, are slowing economic recovery across all industries.

He says those programs are affecting the willingness or eagerness of people to return to the workplace. Businesses are trying to expand and open up following a difficult period and “those programs are definitely a barrier” to getting people to come to work says Alexander. He wants to see changes to the programs to reflect the reality of what businesses are facing across the country.