New provincial program helps youth get leg up in job market

The provincial government has created a new fund to help match unemployed youth with employers looking for workers.

“With the Youth Employment Fund (YEF), the government is really addressing two challenges,” said Kathy Low, project co-ordinator with Northern Lights Canada’s Orillia office. “Unemployment among youth is considerably higher than it is for other age groups and now that we’re pulling out of the economic downturn, employers are looking at hiring but are running into a skills gap among those people who are applying for these jobs.”

That’s where the YEF comes into play. An employer can receive up to $6,800 to cover the costs of training and wages if they hire an unemployed youth, aged 15 to 29, for a job placement of between four and six months.

“The employer gets some financial assistance and can then train the new employee,” Low explained. “The youth gets valuable training and experience – something that is critical for them. In an ideal world, if all things go well, the youth could be hired by the employer after taking part in the program.”

In Orillia, Northern Lights and Georgian College’s Centre for Career and Employment Services are the two agencies that are delivering the program.

“We’re pretty excited about this initiative,” said Holly Hie, employment services site co-ordinator at Georgian. “Statistics, province wide, are that about 17% of youth are unemployed. This program will really help to address that.”

The YEF is not restricted to certain sectors; all employers – small, medium and large – can take advantage of the unique program.

“A lot of college and university students have access to co-op programs … but that is not available to this group of people,” said Hie. “This will give a young person an opportunity to experience something similar to a co-op program – an entry-level position that will allow them to get experience and training and allow them to get a taste of that type of job.”

Hie said funding can be used by youths, for example, to get a forklift licence if that’s needed for the position. Low said one youth was able to access the funding to purchase appropriate winter clothing for working outside during cold weather.

“It all depends on the needs of the youth,” said Low. “It might be first-aid training, or a chainsaw licence … we’re here to work with the youth, look at the employer’s needs and ensure that there’s a good fit there.”
Bob Byrne, who looks after human resources for Leadbetter Foods in Orillia, said the program has proven a good fit for him. He recently used the program to hire an employee for the smokehouse within the busy Hughes Road facility.

“It was pretty easy to use the program in terms of paperwork and the process is quite quick, which is really helpful,” said Byrne. “We’re really happy with the young man we’ve hired … it’s a program that works well.”
Low said finding the right fit is a key. While the positions can last a maximum of six months, the hope is the relationship might endure past the end of the program.

“We want to give youth the best opportunity to succeed,” said Low. “We’re kind of like a match-maker. We want to find out what the employer’s key needs are and we want to find out how we can support the employer and the employee.”

Low said she hopes the program also helps bust stereotypes about young people.

“There are a lot of challenges between the generations and we’re hoping to build better workers one youth at a time,” said Low. “Often, it’s their first time in a job environment. It may be as simple as talking to them about proper cell phone use or punctuality … working together with the employer – we’ll be right there alongside them – we hope to create some great relationships.”
For more information on the program, call (705) 325-9299, or visit www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/employmentontario/youthfund

FACTBOX:
The Youth Employment Fund is for unemployed youth, aged 15 to 29, who are not in school full-time.

Youth can receive funding to help with necessary training and other costs (up to $1,000) such as transportation or tools for job placements of four to six months.

Employers, licensed to operate in Ontario and compliant with legislation (ie. health and safety, employment standards, etc.) can participate in the program and receive up to $6,800 per employee to offset training and wages. Training will focus on general skills, such as communications, health and safety, administration, computer or technological skills and can be provided by the employer, or by trainers outside of the workplace.

Job placements cannot displace current or laid-off employees.
Special effort will be made to help youth facing barriers to work including youth on social assistance, Aboriginal youth, youth with a disability and youth with a poor education history or poor employability.

Photo:
Dave MacNeal, 28, has been hired by Leadbetter Foods, an Orillia-based meat processing facility, under the provincial government’s new Youth Employment Fund. The goal of the initiative is to help match unemployed youth with employers looking for workers.