BC Government: Opening doors to employment for young adults
Press Release
May 23, 2019
SURREY – Young adults in Surrey are getting the skills training and employment supports to prepare them for careers as tradespeople and safety technicians in B.C.’s booming construction sector.
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) will receive $1.7 million annually over the next two years to deliver skills training programs and supports to young adults and young adults at risk, including former youth in care.
“Breaking down barriers to good-paying jobs benefits the next generation and builds off of our government’s commitment to open doors for young people, including former youth in care,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Skills training and employment supports, like those being delivered in Surrey, are empowering young people to get the skills employers need, while encouraging them to take charge of their future.”
The two programs at PICS are among 39 programs in B.C. that started on April 1, 2019. These programs are providing training and employment support programs for people aged between 18 and 24 years, regardless of their employment insurance availability. The types of programs vary by service provider, but typically include skills training, mentorship and other supports to help participants overcome employment barriers. These barriers could include lack of work experience or occupational skills, as well as involvement in the criminal justice system, incomplete high school education or history of addiction and substance abuse.
PICS is delivering a 20-week Youth Technical Employment and Business Pathways program that allows young adults to explore three different technical occupations: fire protection inspection, construction safety inspection and underground utility location.
A second PICS program is the 30-week Trade Builders for young adults at risk. It provides construction trades skills training, as well as additional supports, including employment support for learners.
“This program has guided me through the career path that I was hoping for. I am truly grateful to everybody who has helped me open my eyes to the path of success,” said Edwin Uy, PICS student.
Kathleen Chitombo, another PICS student said, “I am glad that I am a part of this program. Within the span of two weeks I have learned various things about the workforce and who I am. I look forward to learning more.”
The Province is providing a total of $15 million per year over the next two years to support skills training and employment support programs for young adult programs including: $9 million annually to programs supporting young adults, and $6 million annually for programs supporting young adults at risk.
A total of about 2,500 young adults annually are expected to access skills training and wraparound supports leading to jobs or further education and training.
Quotes:
Rachna Singh, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers –
“Young people can often find barriers to building a strong future, so it’s important we support their success. Investing in young adults in Surrey will open doors and create pathways to good jobs that are in high demand.”
Satbir Singh Cheema, CEO, PICS –
“Young adults in our community face many barriers whenever it comes to employment. Our team of instructors work with program participants to prepare them for good jobs in industries such as the building trades and technical occupations.”
David Holt, facilitator and job developer, PICS –
“The goal is to give program participants the skills that employers need.”
Quick Facts:
- The Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed the Workforce Development Agreement in 2018 to deliver programs that give people the skills and retraining that employers look for, with a specific focus on under-represented and vulnerable groups. Under the agreement, the Province will invest $685 million over six years in programs, such as the Skills Training for Employment Program, to help people who face barriers to participation in the labour market.
- Programs delivered through the Skills Training for Employment Program focus on meeting the needs of vulnerable and under-represented groups, regardless of their eligibility for employment insurance, by assisting people facing barriers to participate in the labour market. Participants receive pre-employment, skills training and employment supports to obtain sustainable employment.
- The 2018 edition of the B.C. Labour Market Outlook forecasts 903,000 job openings in the next decade until 2028 due to a mixture of retirements and economic growth; 77% of job openings will require some level of post-secondary education or training.
Learn More:
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society: https://pics.bc.ca
WorkBC – Jobs, education and career information: https://www.workbc.ca
A backgrounder follows.
Skills training and employment supports for young adults
Thirty-nine skills training and employment support programs for young adults and young adults at risk are available in rural and urban areas throughout the province.
Twenty-two young adult programs are available for individuals aged 18 to 24 years at the time of intake:
- Get Youth Working – Bowman Employment Services Inc. – provincial
- Employment Now – Boys and Girls Club of South Coast – Greater Vancouver
- Employment Now – Boys and Girls Club of South Coast – Surrey/Delta
- Skilled Labourer Program – College of New Caledonia – Cariboo Regional District, Fraser-Fort George Regional District, Bulkley-Nechako Regional District
- Camp and Catering Program – College of New Caledonia – Cariboo Regional District, Bulkley-Nechako Regional District
- Future Troopers: Immigrant Youth Employment Program – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- TechWORKS for Young Adults – ETHOS Career Management Group – Vancouver Island
- STE for Young Adults – Greater Trail Community Skills Centre – Kootenay Boundary Regional District
- Youth in Tech – The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Game Changer: An Employment Program for Immigrant Youth – Association of Greater Victoria – Victoria
- Aspire – Kootenay Employment Services Society – East Kootenay Regional District
- The GIG Project – MCC Community Enterprises – Greater Vancouver Regional District, Abbotsford, Mission, Aldergrove
- Fast Track to Manufacturing Careers – Multilingual Orientation Services (MOSAIC) – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Training for Jobs – Nexus BC Community Resource Centre Society – North Okanagan Regional District
- Tomorrow’s Workforce Now: Skills Training for Young Adults – Obair Economic Society – Peace River Regional District
- Skills Training for Young Adults with Disabilities – Open Door Social Services Society – Kamloops
- Youth Technical Employment and Business Pathways – Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society – Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam
- Youth Employment Connect: Training for Jobs – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. – Greater Vancouver Regional District, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Tri-Cities, Surrey and Richmond
- Self-Employment Training for Young Entrepreneurs – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Construct Your Future – Vancouver Island Construction Association – Capital Regional District
- Early Years Assistant Training Program – The YMCA of Greater Vancouver – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Youth Connects – YMCA of Okanagan Association – Central Okanagan Regional District
Seventeen young adult programs for at-risk individuals who are generally not employment ready and face barriers to employment. A barrier could include something such as a former or current youth in care, housing instability, criminal justice involvement, incomplete high school education or history of addiction and substance abuse.
- Indigenous Youth Employment Project – Association of Neighbourhood Houses of B.C. – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Employing Youth from Care (Bootstrap Project) – Aunt Leah’s Independent Life Skills Society – Greater Vancouver Regional District, Metro-Vancouver
- First Nations Youth Training Program – Blue Collar Silviculture – Cariboo, North Coast and Nechako, Vancouver Island/Coast Development Regions
- Get Youth Working – Bowman Employment Services – Province of B.C.
- Virtual Skills Training for Employment Preparation (Vstep) – Buxton Consulting – Fraser Valley Regional District
- STEP-YA – INEO Employment Counselling – Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino
- Young Adult Training Program – The John Howard Society of B.C. – Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Okanagan, Mainland/Southwest, Capital Regional District, Nanaimo
- SMART launch – Kootenay Career Development Society – Kootenay Boundary Regional District, Central Okanagan Regional District
- Aspire – Kootenay Employment Services Society – East Kootenay Regional District
- Manufacturing Youth Skills Training (MYST) – Mission Community Skills Centre Society – Fraser Valley Regional District
- Working Warriors Project – Prince George Native Friendship Centre Society – Fraser-Fort George Regional District
- Trade Builders Program for Young Adults at Risk – Progressive Intercultural Community Service Society – Surrey, Delta, Richmond
- QUEST Plus Pipeline Construction Worker Training Program – Workforce Development Consulting Services of Northern B.C. – Kitimat-Stikine Regional District
- Youth Breakthrough to Employment and Training (Youth BEAT) – The YMCA of Greater Vancouver – Greater Vancouver Regional District, Metro-Vancouver: Primarily Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam
- Youth Works Employment Program – YMCA of Northern B.C. – Fraser-Fort George Regional District
- Strive Program – Young Women’s Christian Association – Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Career and Vocational Exploration (CAVE) – Douglas College – Greater Vancouver Regional District
Contact:
Rodney Porter
Communications Director
Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
rodney.porter@gov.bc.ca
250 889-7494
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