ONTARIO
Youth Employment Fund
PURPOSE: To provide young people with an entry point to long-term employment through job placements that offer the chance to learn work skills while earning income.
MINISTRY
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Government of Ontario
DESCRIPTION
As part of the Youth Job Strategy the Ontario government put in place the Youth Employment Fund, a program initiated in September 2013.
The Youth Employment Fund provided up to $7,800 to support each young worker. Clients could receive supports of up to $1,000 to assist with employment-related costs such as transportation and tools. Employers could receive up to $6,800 (plus any unused portion of the individual supports of $1,000) to offset training and wage costs linked with a job placement. Incentives were also intended to support on-the-job training and to offset the risk of hiring youth employees with less experience. Incentives were flexible and there was no set formula for whether funding was used for training and/ or for wages.
While the program was available to all youth in Ontario, a key focus of the Youth Employment Fund was to create employment opportunities for populations with high youth unemployment, including:
• At-risk youth;
• Aboriginal youth;
• Recent immigrants;
• Visible minorities;
• People with disabilities;
• Rural and Northern populations; and,
• Youth leaving care or on social assistance.
Training focused on general skills that are transferable, such as communications, health and safety, administration, computer or technological skills. Some eligible training may lead to certification or a credential. Training could be provided by the employer, or by trainers outside of the workplace.
For employers, the program helped address immediate and long-term skills gaps, shortages, and other workforce development needs.
RESULTS
The Fund exceeded its initial goal by helping more than 25,000 young people access job opportunities, develop skills and gain valuable work experience.
As of January 2015, the program helped 26,600 youth and 85 percent who had participated in the program had either been retained or gone on to further employment elsewhere upon exiting the program.
Ontario is currently undertaking an evaluation of the Youth Employment Fund, which will provide more information on participants’ post-program employment outcomes. It will also inform future investments in employment support programs for youth.
FURTHER INFORMATION
