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Provincial-federal partnership helps local job seekers
Job seekers in the Kootenays are among the more than 5,500 British Columbians receiving the training they need for employment in their communities, thanks to an investment of nearly $36 million from the federal and provincial governments under the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund.
Contracts with 63 service providers to deliver targeted skills training programs across B.C. have been finalized. The programs offered in the Kootenays are:
- Ktunaxa Nation Council: $198,000 for Transitioning to Sustainable Employment. This program has a continuous intake integrating workplace-essential skills, job readiness, entrepreneurial and skills training for youth, Aboriginals and persons with multiple barriers.
- Bowman Employment Services: $265,489 for Get Youth Working for Youth in the Kootenays. This program provides three-months of one-the-job training in entry-level job placements in construction-related occupations.
“With nearly one million job openings coming available by 2024 due to retirements and economic growth, these investments in skills training are critical to keep our economy growing,” Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett said. “Job seekers can expect to learn how to prepare for entry into the full-time job market, or return to it.”
Some of these programs are delivered in partnership with the Industry Training Authority and the Ministry of Advanced Education. The goal of the training is to help unemployed British Columbians who face barriers to workforce participation to find sustainable employment. The programs are now underway, and the majority will continue into September 2016.
Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada provides $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training. Under the Canada–British Columbia Job Fund Agreement, the province receives $65 million per year—its per capita share of the available funding.
The Canada-British Columbia Job Fund helps ensure training programs give individuals the skills to enter and succeed in the job market. The goal of the Employment Services and Supports stream is to increase the labour market participation of unemployed British Columbians who are not eligible for Employment Insurance programming and services.
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