NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Sector Skills Training
PURPOSE: To meet the labour needs of specific industry sectors requiring entry level employees.
MINISTRY
Department Of Advanced Education and Skills, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
DESCRIPTION
The Sector Skills Training program is a partnership between employers, training providers and the Department of Advanced Education and Skills.
The program provides employers with trained employees to meet labour demand.
Employers get workers and workers get valuable training and work experience.
All participants are primarily either applicants or recipients of the provincial Income Support Program.
The program has three distinct phases:
• Phase One (four weeks) is devoted to pre-employment training allowing for career self-assessment and work/life skills awareness;
• Phase Two (three weeks) is devoted to occupational awareness training in two occupational areas (i.e. Retail Sales and Food Service) as well as completion of certificates for First Aid, Back Injury Prevention, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and Occupational Health & Safety.
• Phase Three (four weeks) is devoted to one-on-one/group coached support to secure employment in one of the two occupational areas addressed in Phase Two. Participants could potentially start employment day one of Phase Three; however, the goal is to have all participants employed before the end of Phase Three.
Employers contribute to the occupational awareness portion of the training by identifying skills/ tasks specific to their work place. Additionally, the four week work experience serves to elevate the participant’s practical skill level specific to the employer’s requirements. This phase enables participants to become proficient in the employer’s required skill set which in turn contributes to the development of a strong, independent, committed employee.
RESULTS
As of December 31, 2014, 185 individuals participated in the Sector Skills Training program. There have been 10 offerings of the program at various locations across the province since June 2013. The sectors targeted during those offerings include Retail Sales, Food Services, Janitorial Services and Construction Labourer.
Program participants have transitioned from total dependence on income support to a reduced need for this support as a result of working in an occupational area of their choice.
Program surveys completed by participants indicate that the Sector Skills Training program enhanced their knowledge of their own skills, as well as those specific to an occupational area of interest and their ability to look for work in that sector.
Employer feedback on the program generally indicated participant’s knowledge and ability as a strength. In terms of transferable skills, employers rated participants to be in the range from acceptable to strong in this area. Overall, the general message from the ten program offerings indicate that the majority of employers felt the program was beneficial to the participants as it prepared them reasonably well for entry-level employment within their sector. Additionally, since the participants had already completed required safety training this was also seen as beneficial to employers.
The surveys found that the program had reduced dependency on income support:
• Immediately at the end of the program: 52 percent
• 3 months after completing the program: 70 percent
• 6 months after completing the program: 76 percent
FURTHER INFORMATION
Employment Services | Advanced Education and Skills - Sector Skills Program
