Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

1. Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomersin York Region An Opening Doors Workshop January 21, 2010 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services - Vaughan Presented by: Holly Burch-Hie, HR/Employment Specialist, Simpressions—A Division of Job Skills

2. Agenda • About Job Skills • Learning Outcomes • Statistics • Labour Market Integration Issues Facing Newcomers • Making Effective Referrals • Employment Services & Programs • Additional Resources • Case Studies • Questions & Answers Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

3. Job Skills’ Overview • Job Skills has 12 sites throughout York, Dufferin, Halton, Peel and Toronto • Services are available to all unemployed residents • Currently serves more than 25,000 individuals annually • Job Skills receives funding from the Government of Canada, provincial and municipal governments and the United Way of York Region Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

4. Summary of Programs & Services Employment Services & Programs Employment Assessment Centres Youth Outreach & Employment Services Job Finding Club Newcomer Employment Services Practice Firms Immigrant Information Services Welcome Centre Immigrant Services Job Search Workshops Employment Settlement Supports Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

5. Summary of Programs & Services Self-Employment Services & Programs Self-Employment Benefits Program (SEB) Opportunities Fund - SEB Program Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) Special initiatives are also developedto address local labour market needs Employment Services provided since 1988, Business Services since 1995, Newcomer Employment Services since 2003 Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

6. Job Skills' Mission Statement Job Skills is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing people’s capacity to participate in the labour market, thereby contributing to the economic and social viability of our community. For more information visit: www.jobskills.org Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

7. Learning Outcomes Learn about labour market integration issues facing newcomers Enhance your ability to effectively refer newcomer clients to appropriate employment services and programs Improve your communication and connections to the York Region employment service delivery network Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

8. “Immigration is one of the most pressing issues facing the labour market today. Canada’s population is not increasing naturally and our employees are aging. Immigrants have the skills and expertise to enhance and expand our labour market, and it’s critical that we break down any barriers to this integration.” Dominic D’Alessandro, CEO and President of Manulife Financial and Co-Chair of TRIEC Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

9. Newcomers in York Region Approximately 900,000 people live in York Region About 45% of people in this region were born outside of Canada Immigrants, especially those who have been in the country for five years or less, are the fastest growing segment of York Region’s population Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

10. Newcomers in York Region • Between 1991 and 2001: • 69% of Canada’s population growth was a result of people immigrating • the number of recent immigrants increased by 13%, while non-immigrants increased by only 3% • Between 2001 and 2006: • immigrant population accounted for about 60% of the growth • By 2011: • immigration will account for 100% of Canada’s net labourforce growth Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

11. Newcomer Employment in York Region Most of the immigrants who settle in York Region are well educated from a professional occupation. The unemployment rate for university educated recent immigrants was four times greater than that of similar non-immigrants. By addressing newcomer unemployment and under-employment issues, the other issues of settlement including access to quality heath care, housing,education and development of social supports fornewcomers will also be improved. Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

12. Labour Market Integration Issues Facing Newcomers • Low English levels • Lack of knowledge of career paths available in Canada • Employers require recognition of educational credentials • Employers demand Canadian work experience and knowledge of Canadian corporate culture • Lack of a formal network within their own industry or profession • Lack of knowledge job search expectations within Canada Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

13. Before You Make Referrals Share your success. How to make effective referrals. The right intervention for the right person at the right time. Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

14. English Language Training • English as a Second Language Training (ESL) • Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) • To learn the English language skills that are essential to their social, economic and cultural integration into Canadian society • Enhanced Language Training – Industry Targeted • Administration/Customer Service, Accounting, Childcare or IT • 20-week program offers higher level language training in a specific field • Computer skills upgrading, assisted work placement & job search support Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

15. English Language Training • Ontario Specific Language Training (OSLT) • Specialized language training for market sectors such as Business, Health Care and Technology • Communication Skills Practice • Opportunity to practice English conversation on a variety of topics within a relaxed and flexible group setting Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

16. Career Pathing • Accreditation Assistance Access Centre (AAAC) • Outlines steps for success in the accreditation process, for both current and long-term goals • Accreditation Plans developed with one-on-one interviews • Career Solutions • Individual Employment Counselling Services and Group Sessions; referral needed from an Employment Assessment Centre • Regulated Professional Associations • Regulated professions within Ontario are very accustomed to working with newcomers to Canada Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

17. Education Credentials Assessment • Regulatory Bodies • Each regulatory body in Ontario decides how to assess an applicant's academic credentials • Some educational institutions and occupational regulatory bodies have their own academic assessment processes • Academic Credential Assessment Services Providers • Educational requirements differ for every profession and trade, and there are a number of different organizations that assess someone's schooling to ensure it meets Ontario's standards • Accreditation Assistance Access Centre (AAAC) • Within an action plan, realistic recommendations are made considering financial need to move forward with credentials assessment Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

18. Education Credentials Assessment Global Experience Ontario Can help internationally trained and educated individuals find out how to qualify for professional practice in Ontario Job Connect Assistance is available to newcomers for translation of documents and credentials assessment (WES) Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

19. Work Experience & Bridging Programs • Practice Firms • Participants at any given time work in real departments of a simulated business, and devote 20% of their time to an active job search • Allow participants to gain current Canadian work experience in a professional, business environment • Departments are: Administrative, Accounting/Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, IT (QA, Database Programmers, Network Administrators, Software Testers) and Graphic/Web Design • Ontario Bridging Programs • Bridge Training Programs help qualified internationally-trained individuals move quickly into the labour market in Ontario Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

20. Career Bridge Paid internship program for Internationally-qualified professionals operated by Career Edge Organization Volunteering Work experience, networking and solid work references are provided Wage Subsidy Job Connect wage subsidy for employers to assist in new employees training or workplace adjustment issues Work Experience & Bridging Programs Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

21. Mentoring and Networking • The Mentoring Partnership • Mentoring Partnership brings together recent skilled immigrants and established professionals in occupation-specific mentoring relationships • York Region service provider is COSTI Immigrant Services Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

22. Job Search • Job Search Workshops for Newcomers • A program that assists individuals that have a clear employment goal • Includes Orientation to the Canadian Labour Market • All job search techniques are geared to Newcomers • Job Finding Club • 2 - 3 week full time job search program with assistance from job search professionals • Skills International • Web-enabled, searchable database of candidate profiles is dedicated exclusively to profiling the skills of immigrant job seekers in Ontario Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

23. Additional Resources • Welcome Centre • A one-stop service under one roof designed to guide and support immigrants through the maze of information and resources in York Region • HireImmigrants.ca • Designed to assist the hiring decision makers and business leaders to source, select, develop and welcome skilled immigrants as creative contributors to the workforce • Immigrant Information Services • A mobile initiative, connecting newcomers and immigrants to the services they need, right in their own community • Knowledgeable Outreach Specialists quickly determine the best starting point for each person and refer to appropriate service providers Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

24. York Region Immigrant Portal A resource website for newcomers on employment, housing, healthcare, education and demographic information in York Region Settlement.org A resource website for newcomers on immigration, citizenship, housing, health, community, employment and legal services There is a “settlement at work” section of the website for employment counsellors working with newcomers Additional Resources Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

25. Case Studies Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region

26. Questions & Answers Navigating Employment Supports for Newcomers in York Region