VICTORIA – Eight out of every ten participants in provincial work experience programs have found employment after participating in Community and Employer Partnership (CEP) funded projects. Since the Community and Employer Partnership program launched in April 2012, more than 800 job-seekers have benefited from work experience and nearly 180 projects have been funded by the program throughout the province.
“When you’re looking for a job, having the skills employers are looking for can make all the difference. Community and Employer Partnerships provide this labour market information through research and industry partnerships – and, they help unemployed British Columbians gain the work experience and in-demand skills needed by offering work placements and hands-on training opportunities,” explained Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation.
An example of the Program’s success can be found in Tofino where CEP participants Shawn and Garett are now working for a local water taxi company and renovating motel rooms, thanks to skills gained renovating and painting the local fire hall as part of a provincial Job Creation Partnership (JCP) with the Community Fisheries Development Centre.
In addition, a project in Lillooet helped provide the landscaping and masonry experience Sheldon needed to launch his own contracting business. He’s one of seven workers who has been able to find employment after participating in the Splitrock Environmental Sekw’el’was Sustainable Landscaping Design and Installation JCP that ended in spring 2015.
“Across the province, Community and Employer Partnerships are investing in communities and job creation. By strengthening relationships with industry and connecting training with in-demand jobs, CEP projects are helping British Columbians be first in line for local jobs,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.
The B.C. government has budgeted $8-million for CEP projects in 2015-16 to help increase labor market partnerships, employment opportunities and skills training for unemployed British Columbians. Community and Employer Partnerships help those facing multiple barriers to employment and client inclusion groups find work by identifying in-demand skills and employment opportunities, as well as providing hands-on training and work experience in communities across B.C. Funding is available for community projects that focus on increasing employability and sharing labour market information throughout B.C. in four ways:
- Job Creation Partnerships provide funding to organizations to help with community-based projects by providing valuable work experience and skills enhancement to eligible jobseekers.
- Labor Market Partnerships fund community organizations to develop and implement ways to address the local labor market or urgent community employment issues.
- Project-Based Labor Market Training helps groups of people — such as people who have received layoff notices — with on- or off-the-job employment training.
- Research and Innovation encourages progressive research to find better ways of helping people find work as quickly as possible using untried and untested methods.
British Columbia is reaching a tipping point where more people are leaving the workforce than people entering it. That is why the B.C. government is taking action now to address this rapidly changing labor market. The Community and Employer Partnership fund is part of the Employment Program of BC and the B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.
Quick Facts:
- The B.C. government has invested over $18.6-million in Community and Employer Partnerships since April 2012.
- In 2015-16, the Ministry of Social Development has committed to investing $331-million in employment and labor market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
- The Employment Program of BC, launched in April 2012, is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labor Market Development Agreement.
- Funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
- Job Creation Partnerships
- Labor Market Partnerships
- Project-Based Labor Market Training
- Research and Innovation
