Photo : © Tourism Toronto, 2003 PREPARING YOUTH FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY WORKPLACE Rhonda R. Shirreff Lawyer, Heenan Blaikie LLP Toronto, Ontario CANADA

The 21 st 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”  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 Strategy Programs  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 21 st 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 21 st 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.