Unleashing the Power of Workforce Mobility: Digital Nomad Talent Attraction Programming in Pictou County, Nova Scotia

The talent needed to create healthy, diverse economies in communities around Canada is dynamic, niche, constantly changing, and increasingly digital. In this ever-evolving landscape of the modern workforce, embracing mobility is a powerful catalyst for innovation and growth. This is true both for communities across Canada who are looking outside of their regions to develop talent pipelines to suit their distinct needs. And, it is also true for skilled individuals who are searching for opportunities for career growth by embracing a more mobile lifestyle.

Want to learn more? Join our FREE Digital Nomad 101 webinar on Dec 7th, 1:00-2:30 pm AST (12:00-1:30 pm EST). Discover work mobility secrets and why Pictou County, Nova Scotia is your prime destination. Register Now and embrace the power of work mobility.

This is the most mobile workforce in history, as three distinct types of movement centric workers have emerged: 

• Mobile Workers: Highly-skilled professionals (nurses, doctors, teachers, etc) and skilled-trades people (e.g carpenters, electricians, etc.) who are looking for opportunities to grow their careers by seeking employment opportunities in a new location. 
• Remote Workers: Digitally skilled professionals (and entrepreneurs) who have the ability to work anywhere with an internet connection. Remote workers have the ability to seek lower cost of living and amenities that suit their needs by relocating to build a lifestyle around their remote work. 
• Digital Nomads: Digitally skilled professionals who are first and foremost travellers. They are transient in their work mobility. Seamlessly blending work and travel, digital nomads will visit communities as tourists, however they can also bring diverse skill sets to your region and have the capacity to form relationships with local organisations and continue to contribute to your local economy after leaving the region.

This growing phenomenon of workforce mobility has created massive opportunities for individuals and communities alike. 

The Maker's Collective embarked on a transformative work-mobility journey over the past year, which has re-ignited our business with new opportunities after a challenging start to 2023. The best thing we did for our business this year was getting outside of Ontario to open up new opportunities in other Canadian markets. We are a team of remote workers and digital nomads, and in May 2023 we partnered with Start-Up Canada to deliver a workshop at the Halifax stop on their cross-country tour. The purpose of this trip for our team was twofold: to get out of Ontario for a welcome change of scenery, and more importantly, to identify opportunities to create partnerships and to find new business opportunities in a different geographic market. 

Our experience in Nova Scotia has proven that mobility can translate into significant business and career development opportunities. In the 5 months after our speaking engagement at the Halifax stop on the Start-Up Canada Tour in May, we have generated new deals that have brought a 10X return on our investment to our business. Simultaneously, we've contributed to the local economy by sharing knowledge, skills, and fostering new growth with new partners in Halifax, and across the province —an undeniable win-win outcome.

This experience of blending work and travel as domestic digital nomads was transformative. We learned that the skills we possess, and the offers we have, hold even more value in markets other than Ontario. Working remotely from Nova Scotia allowed us to clearly see how skill gaps change across the country, and that the place where your skills are most valued is likely not in your current environment. Moreover, this experience allowed us to connect with the wonderful folks from Pictou County Partnership, who shared our interest in exploring the intersection of digital nomad-ing and talent attraction. Now, we are working in collaboration with a range of local stakeholders to build a customised talent attraction pipeline that supports the growth and diversification by bringing digital nomads, remote workers, and mobile workers to the region. 

This collaborative effort is the beginning of our work to transform Pictou County into a hub for workforce mobility. Our ecosystem of local partners have worked together to pinpoint the ideal target talent needed for the Pictou workforce. From there, we are engaging in place-branding consultations to define the region’s Unique Value Proposition. We know that the allure of Pictou County for folks embracing location mobility to grow their career extends beyond its coastal charm, welcoming community, and its laid back pace of life. The region offers a strategic opportunity for career mobility, with specific opportunities in the skilled trades and for those with a range of technology skills. And, the costs of living offer many benefits relative to urban centres and other parts of Canada.

On December 7th, 2023, we’ll be launching the first phase of our Digital Nomad Talent Attraction program in the region, when we will be hosting the Digital Nomad 101: Why Pictou County webinar. In this webinar we will share the tips needed for individuals to get started on their work mobility journey. We will also highlight why Pictou County is a desirable destination through a panel discussion, where a range of stakeholders from the region will share different insights about work, entrepreneurship, and life in Pictou County. The session will leverage immigration partnerships in France and Morocco to attract international talent, while a network of Canadian partners will come together to attract remote workers, digital nomads, and remote workers to the session. 

Excitement builds as we plan our return to Atlantic Canada in Summer 2024. Our focus will shift from hosting the initial webinar, to hosting a retreat that brings skilled digital nomads, remote workers, and mobile workers to Pictou County. This retreat aims to blend travel with opportunities for career advancement and business growth, showcasing the region's potential as a welcoming and enriching hub for today’s more mobile workforce. 

To go deeper into the world of digital nomad-ing and work mobility generally, and to learn more about opportunities in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, join us for the FREE Digital Nomad 101 webinar on Thursday, December 7th, from 1:00-2:30 pm AST. Discover the keys to kickstarting your work mobility journey. And, uncover why Pictou County stands out as a prime destination for both individuals with digital skills, and high-skilled professionals, seeking to foster career and business mobility. 

Stay tuned for the upcoming articles in this series, as we unravel the multifaceted impact of workforce mobility and share insights on transforming Pictou County into a thriving work mobility hub. And, for communities looking to embrace work mobility to reimagine your talent attraction strategy, we would love to connect about bringing our bespoke, customised programming to your community! 

Learn more about working with us as an ecosystem partner - let's chat!