Todd Forbes, a resident of Oshawa, is facing an uncertain future as General Motors prepares to cut the midnight shift at its Oshawa plant, where Forbes has been employed by TFT Global Inc. for over a year. The impending layoff has left Forbes contemplating a move to Nova Scotia with his wife and dog in search of new job opportunities.
Forbes, who has a diverse skill set including experience in manufacturing, maintenance, waste management, retail, and sales, is concerned about his prospects in Oshawa, especially given the city’s high unemployment rate of nine percent. The shift cut will affect around 2,000 workers, including those in the supply chain, creating a challenging job market in a city that already has one of the highest unemployment rates among major Canadian cities.
While GM’s decision to postpone the shift cut has provided temporary relief, the looming layoffs have caused distress among workers like Forbes and Chris Waugh, the Unifor chair for the Oshawa plant, who have already started making preparations for potential job losses.
The connection between the trade war and rising unemployment rates in auto cities like Oshawa remains unclear. Despite efforts to attract new businesses and diversify the local economy, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter is optimistic about the city’s future in the auto industry through technological advancements and collaborations with post-secondary institutions.
As Forbes contemplates a move away from Oshawa, he reflects on the emotional toll of leaving behind not just a job and community but also his close-knit family. The uncertainty surrounding the future of jobs in the auto sector has left many workers like Forbes grappling with tough decisions about their next steps.