GATINEAU, QC, July 15,
2024 /CNW/ - Canadian youth are one of our most
crucial resources and sources of potential. That is why the
Government of Canada supports
youth at every stage of their journey toward a bright and
prosperous future. We know that young people are eager to join the
job market, but many young people still face barriers to employment
that is key to financial success and personal fulfilment. Creating
opportunities for youth to gain the skills and experience they need
for a fair chance at success is key to strengthening our economy,
building a more inclusive country, and ensuring that no one is left
behind.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender
Equality and Youth, announced the Government is funding more than
200 new community-led projects that will transform the lives of
22,000 young people facing barriers to employment by improving
their ability to find and keep good jobs.
The projects are receiving approximately $370 million over
four years through Employment and Social Development
Canada's (ESDC) Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS)
Program, one of several programs offered under the Government of
Canada's Youth Employment and
Skills Strategy. These projects will provide flexible employment
services and holistic supports tailored to each individual to help
them gain transferable skills that will have a lasting positive
impact on their careers. For example, projects funded by the YESS
Program can include mentoring, coaching, training, wraparound
services (for example, dependent care support and mental health
counselling) and paid work placements in a range of sectors, in
order to set up every participant for individual success.
Quote
"The Government of Canada is
making sure that every young person in Canada gets access to the skills and
experience they need to successfully transition into the labour
market. These new projects are great examples of how the federal
government and its partners can work together to create
opportunities for all young people, particularly youth facing
barriers and with disabilities, to hit the ground running and build
fulfilling careers."
– The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender
Equality
Quick facts
- ESDC's YESS Program was designed to support all youth with an
equal opportunity to find meaningful work.
- The YESS Program provides funding to organizations to deliver a
range of activities that help young people (aged 15–30) overcome
barriers to employment. YESS supports a flexible approach with
services tailored to each individual, so that youth participants
can gain the skills and experience they need to successfully
transition into the labour market.
- New to the current funding cycle is an emphasis on supporting
projects that target youth with disabilities. Over 30% of funded
projects are expected to address the unique employment challenges
faced by youth with disabilities, surpassing the original target of
20% under the new Youth with Disabilities Stream.
- Other priority groups include Indigenous youth, 2SLGBTQI+
youth, Black and other racialized youth and youth in official
language minority communities.
Associated links
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Backgrounder: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program
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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada