Canada, B.C. collaboration improves career opportunities for young adults

December 15, 2023

More than 3,000 people between 16 and 29 in B.C. will benefit during the next two years from skills training and employment as part of a collaborative effort of the governments of British Columbia and Canada.

The Young Adults and Young Adults at Risk programs provide skills training and employment supports, which are based on the needs of each participant, to help overcome barriers to employment and give young people skills needed to succeed in the workplace and beyond.

Participants in the Young Adults program acquire new skills and get help with barriers they face, including lack of job-related skills, work experience, suitable clothing, transportation and child care requirements that may be holding them back. These participants are typically motivated and employment-ready, but happen to be unemployed or want positions with more job security.

The Young Adults At Risk program has a similar focus. It differs in that participants are not considered to be employment-ready due to complex barriers, such as housing instability, criminal records, incomplete high school education, addiction recovery or mental-health challenges.

These confidence-building programs for young people offer a wide variety of opportunities to learn new skills and train for careers in areas such as early childhood education assistants, work-camp kitchen cooks and caterers, or boat and marine-service technicians. Young people seeking greater job security can boost their skills to match new jobs and high-opportunity careers in growing sectors, while public, private and non-profit employers find the skilled workers they need.

Source: Read more here