5. Human Resources

As outlined throughout this document, Ramea has at its disposal a rich assortment of natural and built resources. The community's strongest asset by far, however, is its people. To prospective employers, the community can offer a stable, hard working la bour force with a track record in year round employment in an industrial plant. The labour force is very adaptable to new training and employment opportunities and has a strong attachment to the community.

Following is a description of some of the important characteristics of the people of Ramea.

Age Grouping:

Age Group     
Number of Persons

 0 - 14 	       
280
 15 - 24	
	215
 25 - 44
		440
 45 - 59
		135
   60+		
	145

Worth noting is the fact that the first three (3) groupings, residents up to age forty-four (44), make up approximately seventy-six percent (76.6%) of the population. This is four percent (4%) higher than the Provincial average and demonstrates that Rame a has a young, vibrant population.

Labour Force Training & Experience:

A Labour Force Survey recently completed by the Ramea Industrial Adjustment Committee (November, 1993) provides some good profile information about the community's labour force, as follows:

• i) Occupational Breakdown:
  • Of a total of three hundred and thirty-six (336) people interviewed, two hundred and seventy-one (271) or 80.6% have significant work experience in the fishplant. It should be emphasized that the people of Ramea have extensive experience in all aspe cts of running a modern food processing plant, including management, production line and quality control experience.
  • Seventy-nine (79) or 23.5% of the people interviewed are experienced in fish harvesting, both inshore and offshore and in the crewing of freighters and other large sea going vessels.
  • In work areas outside the fishery, thirty-two (32) or 9.5% are experienced in construction and other traditional trades. In addition, eighty-six (86) of those interviewed have a variety of other work experiences such as office work, personal services and the hospitality industry.
• ii) Hobbies & Skills:
  • Greater than two hundred (200) of those interviewed reported having other skills and hobbies that could be possibly converted into small businesses or employment. These include:

  
  Skill / Hobby	                          
     Number of People
  
  Carpentry / Plumbing / Furniture Repair	
  	        91
  Handicrafts	            
  				91
  Mechanics / Electronics / Small Engine Repair	
  	30
  Others - Bookkeeping, Beauty Culture & Scuba Diving
  	43
  
  

• iii) Interest in Training / Retraining:
  • The survey also firmly established that Ramea's labour force is very keen to engage in training upgrading and retraining. Two hundred and seven (207) of the three hundred and thirty-six (336) people interviewed indicated an interest in a wide range o f areas such as resource management, computers, tourism and heavy equipment operation.
• iv) Interest in Entrepreneurial Activity:
  • Seventy-one (71) or 21% of the people interviewed indicated an interest in small business. As noted above, there is already a significant level of experience in business management in the community, which is a strength that can be carried forward int o the development of new business opportunities.
• v) Volunteer Sector:
  • As noted elsewhere, there is an exceptional level of volunteer activity in Ramea as witnessed by the number of active community service organizations and activities in a community of just over one thousand two hundred (1200) people.

Back to Table of Contents		Next Page