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Aflcr all. if yuu \ww trying m guns.» what kind of jobs would be around today back in 1971. your projectbng would miss the "ink. ‘ ilh an educated. skilled workforte and a solid base of established small and large busi- ncsws. York Region should be ab“: [0 look forward In a healthy: cronormc future. It's unlikely you could have anticipated the existenCc of your workplaces information technology department. Simflarly. as many as 40 per cent of job titles in 2051 don't exist points out Rid: Minor. The former Seneca College presi- dent now wurks as a workfon‘e con- sultant. who says while there's a lot we can't know about the economy of 2051. (hem's no question York’s will be undergo signifi- cant changes. ' Tough decisions; will haw.- m be made to stem a major labour short- age. Mr. Minor 111c- prublcm will penis! over lhr‘ next 20 yrarx as luxmwrs' retire and by 2051. the “echo” Uhoboomcrs' children) will Knowledge eConomy drivingYork’s future BY DAVID FLEISCHER dflcz-schcrwyrmg. com ID Smith president Scott Smith is oonccrned about what the future holds for the aging truck driver workforce. be retiring. Mr. Miner delivered a keynote address in February at an even: heralding the culmination of York Region's study ofthc economic effects of the coming retirement wave. ‘ He praised the region for getting ahead of the curve, anticipating “a mend many have yet to confront. [anger companies. with human resuumes 5133', are stanixig to brace for dwlge. But small and medium- sizw businesses are in a more pm- carious position. Mina says. 'I'he 'mgional trucking and wane house operator paid dose attention to the region's work. given the high average age of mickcts' and the dif- ficulties the industry faces in attract. mg younger workers. Mr. Smith says. V “We hope to be a place of choice- if "'9 a nunpetitivc market.” he says noting while them will certainly be changcs in the future. trucking isn'! guing anywhere. ' He expects lager. wealdfier firms to snap up talent. putting small com‘ panics in a double-bind. "It's been a fmnvbumer Lesuc for our indusny for a number of years” In Smith president Scott Smith says. But" he’s mm'vrued almul the inctmsing rungestiun fared by his drivers and the sprawl behind it. While York’s economy continms to evolve and there's increased envi- ronmental awamness. it remains Io be seen how busmess will be impact- ed. ' For instance. manufacturing has lost gmund in the regional economy. ' York's economy has diversified. leaving manufacturing with IS pet cent of the regional pie'in‘2010. com- pared to 23.5 per cent in 2001. Businesses and personal schiCEs. such as landscapmg and hair and beauty. each employ about the same number and retail is nut far behind. Health care. trade and cnnstruction are among the other increasineg imponant businesses in the region. But the busincxs climate is incmdibty fertile m York Region. Von: tumlah executive director k‘remy Laurin says. 11w highâ€"loch incubator is part of a pnm‘lpcial network helping 0mm- preneurs bring staleâ€"of-thc-an ideas to the marketplace. giving Mr. laurin a hird'swyPâ€"view uf wlwrP things are heading. Diversification is hero to stay and Mr. Miner expects anedgc-based jobs to become, increasineg impor- tant as manufac'mring declines. Despite concerns about the decline of manufacturing. he thinks there will be a renaissance as the region's skilled workforce and rising fuel costs trump factors that resulted in industry moving to developing countries Innovations in robotics. for example. will kind of advanced manufacturing for which York is perfectly suited, he says. Mr, Miner note-s entrupreneur- ial amivities - the kind Vent‘urelab aims to promote ~â€" are likciy to Ukrease as the trend Inward shifting careers. lathe: than staying in one place. continues to evolve. great thing about the big guys is they lay the ferrite ground for the next generation? Mr. Laurin $3“: ' Having big hitters. such 35AM!) and IBM. helps. me where he si'tS. the" region is ahead of oft-touted highâ€"tech con- tros. such as Waton and ( mawav Vcnmmlab deals mostly with life‘ science and medical device concepts and the latter is poised for explosive gmwih. thanks largely m Im‘chatmn- its. a (‘fli‘ifi-(“M‘iplinary appmm'h in engineering. ll's nuw nfiervd as a degree at the Uniwnitv uf Waterhm and York Uni~ STAN PHOTOISTFVF SOMERle lf “We either 11‘3""1’caving the opportunity to says. versixy and a critical nmsx uf hrgh» tech companies and mtahlishvd manufacturing moan in amer wave the region is wellunu-d to ride. according to M r. I aurin. FUTURE SHAPING OUR A six-pan series on Yonx Region's vismn for 2051 (hanging ta Economy of the future P0110 nu York Writ Ensure nppufll gm on the bum .1- statinn. m mixs tin go for th‘ ride," ht f pnucrh IIH A Eff“). l