1. What’s New in Employment Services
Niagara College Employment & Training Solutions
Rebecca Nicholls

2. Presentation Overview
Employment Ontario programs
Employment Service
Canada-Ontario Job Grant
Youth Job Link
Youth Job Connection/Youth Job Connection: Summer
Second Career
Apprenticeship
Experience Ontario

3. Employment Services
Employment Service (ES) provides Ontarians with access to the services and supports they need in one location, so they can find and keep a job, apply for training and plan a career that’s right for them.
These services include (but are not limited to):
information on local training and employment opportunities
access and referrals to other Employment Ontario programs and services, including training benefits such as Second Career, Literacy and Basic Skills
coordinated client service planning and supports that provide:
structured and individualized support for conducting a successful job search
job placement and matching services
support to assist clients with job retention and training completion
The Employment Service is delivered at over 300 funded service delivery sites across Ontario.

4. Employment Services Job Resource and Information Centre
Drop in, no appointment necessary
Computers and internet for job searching
Free use of photocopier, fax for resume distribution
Group workshops
Informative workshops to help find and maintain employment
Workshops include short term training options (Smart Serve, National Food Safety Training, First Aid and CPR) and employment related topics
Career, personality and vocational assessments
Discover what job or career best fits you
Identify your interests, aptitudes, values and personality types
Explore your transferable skills
Assessments used include: Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, COPS/CAPS, Personality Dimensions
Job matching, placements and incentives
Matching registered clients with suitable job vacancies
Financial assistance available to employer to offset hiring and training costs

5. Canada-Ontario Job Grant
Canada-Ontario Job Grant provides an opportunity for employers to invest in their workforce, with help from the government.
Provides financial support to individual employers who wish to purchase training for their employees. It will be available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees, and will:
Provide up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs.
Require employers to contribute one-third of the total costs. There will be additional flexibility for small businesses to provide an in-kind contribution towards their share of the costs.
Require training to be delivered by an eligible, third-party trainer.

6. Youth Job Link
The program serves youth, aged 15 to 29, who do not face significant barriers to employment, but could benefit from some extra help to plan their careers and transition to the labour market.
Youth accessing job matching services must also:
reside in Ontario
be eligible to work in Canada
YJL will provide three categories of non-intensive employment services, each of which will be available year-round. They are:
Career exploration services to increase knowledge of career options and support career decision-making;
Career management services to improve readiness for the labour market; and,
Job search, readiness and matching assistance to connect youth with employers offering employment opportunities, including summer jobs.

7. Youth Job Connection
Youth Job Connection (YJC) is designed to serve youth who experience multiple and/or complex barriers to employment by providing more intensive supports beyond traditional job search and placement opportunities.
These include:
Paid pre-employment training to promote job-readiness;
Job matching and paid job placements, with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers; and,
Mentorship services and long-term career supports.
To be eligible individuals must be:
15 – 29 years old at registration.
Individuals between years old must be legally excused from attending high school using a formal Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) agreement
A resident of Ontario
Eligible to work in Canada
Unemployed
Not participating in full-time training or education
Suitable youth will be experiencing complex barriers to employment such as: poverty, homelessness, limited work experience, and low levels of literacy or education.

8. Youth Job Connection: Summer
Supports high school students ages 15 to 18 seeking summer employment
Must be returning to school in September
Challenging life circumstances and at risk of experiencing poor transitions between education and work
Provide information, summer job opportunities and part-time placements during the school year to help young people make positive educational and career choices

9. Second Career
Second Career provides help to unemployed, laid-off workers who will benefit most from skills training to find work.
Second Career helps unemployed laid-off workers with:
skills training to help them find jobs in high-demand occupations in Ontario
financial support, based on individual demonstrated financial need
Academic upgrading for individuals based on academic requirements
Second Career provides up to $28,000 to cover:
all or a portion of the tuition costs, books, transportation costs, a basic living allowance based on individual demonstrated needs and other mandatory instructional costs to help approved applicants participate in skills training.
Additional support may be available to accommodate the needs of people with a disability, dependent care, living away from home costs and all costs relation to Literacy and Basic Skills training are excluded from the $28,000.

10. Second Career To be eligible for Second Career you must:
have been laid-off on or after January 1, 2005;
be unemployed or working in an interim job as defined by Second Career;
be a resident of Ontario;
be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident legally authorized to work in Canada; and
demonstrate occupational demand for the skills training request with evidence of good employment prospects locally or within Ontario.
Several factors are considered to determine the most suitable individual for funding:
Active Job Search
Duration of Unemployment
Educational Attainment          
Work History

11. Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job and in-school training for employment in a skilled trade
More than 150 apprenticeship trades in four sectors
Key to an apprenticeship is securing a sponsor; an employer who is willing to start your training in the trade
Government provides financial assistance to apprentices as progression occurs in training
Upon completion of required hours, apprentice to write the CofQ trade exam to become a licensed Journeyperson

12. Experience Ontario
Two year pilot project funded by Ministry of Education
Supports recent high school graduates, considering post-secondary education, but are uncertain of their next steps
Focus of the program is career exploration
Combination of paid work placements, career coaching, mentorship and information about post-secondary education opportunities