Sara L. Mann, University of Guelph Gordon B. Cooke, Memorial University of Newfoundland

1. A Field Study:  ResearchFindings on Challenges Facing Younger Employees in Rural Ontario presented at Rural Employment Roundtable – June 2013University of Guelph Sara L. Mann, University of Guelph Gordon B. Cooke, Memorial University of Newfoundland James Chowhan, McMaster University Isik Zeytinoglyu, McMaster University Marie-Helene Budworth, York University Chris Upton, University of Guelph This research is supported by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food & the Ministry of Rural Affairs.

2. Introduction • Our research team • Sara Mann • Gordon Cooke (Memorial University of Newfoundland) • Isik Zeytinoglu (McMaster University) • James Chowhan (McMaster University) • Marie Helene Budworth (York University) • Chris Upton (U of G)

3. Our OMAFRA funded research • 4 Projects • Field Research • Comparison interviews with Newfoundland (also funded by SSHRC) • Statistics Canada data analysis • What is rural? Cooke, Chowhan and Mann, 2013

4. Our OMAFRA funded research Examining youth employment issues in rural Ontario 3 years of longitudinal interviews (n=90, 60, 30) Includes career training Cooke, Chowhan and Mann, 2013

5. Review of last year’s interviews • Findings • Lack of transportation • Lack of awareness of and access to post-secondary education and training • Our interviews and discussion at last year’s roundtable informed questions in our current survey and StatsCan analysis

6. Field Study • ‘Rural’ areas (North Bay, Barrie, Tobermory, Kingston, Guelph, St. Catharine's, Fort Erie, Peterborough, Belleville, Sudbury, Brantford, Manitoulin, Niagara Falls area, Hanover) • Sample of 78 youths between the ages of 18-25 • Difficulties of surveying those we interviewed last year • Posted on kijiji and recruited in person

7. Field Study - findings • Any relationships you would like to see explored? • Will try to replicate findings in YITS (Youth in Transition Survey) and possibly WES (Workplace and Employee Survey) to compare to rest of Canada

8. Training Study (with Budworth, York University) • The purpose of this program of research is to examine the relative effectiveness of two interventions aimed at increasing the self-efficacy, or task specific confidence, of unemployed workers • Job search programs often focus solely on practical skills, such as resume writing and interviewing skills  and neglect to consider the many emotional and psychological difficulties that can stand in the way of finding employment Cooke, Chowhan and Mann, 2013

9. Training Study (with Budworth, York University) • Psychological theory can be used to help develop programs that deal with the negative psychological consequences of persistent underemployment or unemployment, as well as helping them acquire the practical skills needed to secure a job.   • The main objectives of the current research are: • (1) to determine the relative merits of one intervention as compared to the other; • (2) to determine the mechanisms through which these interventions are effective • (3) to develop a model of how to efficiently aide individuals who are faced with real and significant barriers to employment   Cooke, Chowhan and Mann, 2013

10. Next steps - What is rural? • Look at definitions that are currently being used • Perceptions vs actual • “It’s all relative” • Implications of using a different definition

11. Next steps – Employer Survey • To be distributed this summer • Any questions to be added • Could you help with distribution of link to survey?

12. Questions? Comments? Complaints!?! smann@uoguelph.ca