Pho

to :

© T

ouris

m T

oron

to,

2003

PREPARING YOUTH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WORKPLACE

Rhonda R. ShirreffLawyer, Heenan Blaikie LLP

Toronto, Ontario CANADA

416.643.6858 rshirreff@heenan.ca

The 21st Century Workplace

A highly competitive global workplace

Characterized by: continuous change increasing skill requirements

The Challenge

Ensuring youth in Canada are actively engaged in acquiring the knowledge and skills they will need to ensure their long-term success

How To Meet It?

Develop skills and knowledge through the public education system (provincial)

Develop public sector youth employment strategies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels

Encourage joint initiatives between government, community agencies and private sector organizations to increase access to educational and economic opportunities

Public Education:

Most Canadian youth attend publicly-funded local secondary schools.

Provincial Ministries of Education: set curriculum policy and teacher certification requirements provide funding according to a formula

Local Boards of Education: deliver programs, hire teachers, build and maintain schools set budgets

Case Study: Province of Ontario

(Grades 9 through 12)

To earn the Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma, a student must:

Earn 30 credits (18 compulsory / 12 optional) Complete 40 hours of community involvement

activities Pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Contractual Terms for Expats

Compulsory subjects include “Career Studies“ (0.5 credit)

Optional subjects include:

Business studies Guidance and career education Technological education Cooperative education (with classroom and job placement

components)

Case Study: Province of Ontario

Other forms of “Experiential Learning” include:

Job shadowing and job training Work experience School-work transition programs Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Public Sector Strategies

Federal “Youth Employment Strategy”

www.youth.gc.ca

Provincial and municipal strategies and initiatives

Federal Youth Employment Strategy

A national strategy created by the Government of Canada to help youth aged 15 to 30:

Obtain career information Develop employability skills Find good jobs Stay employed

Government departments and associated agencies work with partners in provincial & municipal governments, businesses and communities to deliver initiatives under 3 programs

Federal Youth Employment StrategyPrograms

Skills Link: Helps young people who face more barriers to employment than

most others

Summer Work Experience Helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer

jobs

Career Focus Helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and

find careers in their fields

Federal Youth Employment Strategy

Applicants develop proposals for federal funding of specific initiatives

Who participates?

Businesses Employer and labour associations Educational institutions Community organizations Municipal governments

Provincial Initiatives:

Case Study:

Ontario Learning, Earning and Parenting Program

(“L.E.A.P”)

Case Study: “L.E.A.P”

A provincially-funded program delivered by municipalities

Designed to assist young parents to:

Complete their high school education

Participate in work experience programs & discover employment skills needed to succeed in the job market

Enhance and support their parenting skills

Case Study: “L.E.A.P”

Examples of benefits and supports provided under L.E.A.P:

School-related costs Transportation costs Individual service plans & support Job skills programs Child care assistance Parenting programs

Public – Private Partnerships

Case Study: Partnership to Advance Youth Employment

(“P.A.Y.E.”)

A joint initiative between the City of Toronto, community agencies and private sector employers to increase economic opportunities for youth

The focus is on young people to age 29 who live in one of Toronto’s identified “Priority Areas” and are looking for that vital first connection to begin their careers

Case Study: “P.A.Y.E.”

What role does the City play?

City of Toronto staff:

Provide ground level support for all P.A.Y.E. initiatives

Match qualified youth to employment and internship opportunities

Case Study: “P.A.Y.E.”

What role do community agencies play?

P.A.Y.E. relies on community agencies to:

Promote community events Provide support services Coach youth Provide placement opportunities

Case Study: “P.A.Y.E.”

What role do employers play?

Employers can:

Identify employment and internship opportunities Participate in community recruitment events Provide mentoring support and guidance to help

youth make a successful transition to the workplace Raise awareness about P.A.Y.E. within the business

community

Summary: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Youth for the 21st Century Workplace

The Essential Components:

Public education, including traditional and alternative means to complete secondary school

National “Youth Employment Strategy”, combined with provincial & municipal strategies and initiatives

Summary: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Youth for the 21st Century Workplace

The Essential Components:

Public-private partnerships that provide learning, skills development, upgrading, training and internship opportunities that lead to real jobs and career advancement.