The federal government is investing in youth employment through a significant funding initiative aimed at helping young people overcome barriers to entering the workforce.
Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced today that more than 200 community-led projects will receive approximately $370 million over four years. These projects are expected to assist 22,000 young people in gaining the skills and experience necessary for sustainable employment, according to Ottawa.
The funding is part of Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program, designed to support young Canadians aged 15 to 30 in transitioning into the labour market.
The YESS Program aims to provide flexible employment services and holistic supports tailored to individual needs, ensuring that participants acquire transferable skills for long-term career success. Funded projects may include mentoring, coaching, training, wraparound services such as dependent care support and mental health counselling, and paid work placements across various sectors.
“The Government of Canada is making sure that every young person in Canada gets access to the skills and experience they need to successfully transition into the labour market,” said Ien. “These new projects are great examples of how the federal government and its partners can work together to create opportunities for all young people, particularly youth facing barriers and with disabilities, to hit the ground running and build fulfilling careers.”
The YESS Program prioritizes support for marginalized groups, including Indigenous youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, Black and other racialized youth, and youth in official language minority communities. This funding cycle places a particular emphasis on projects targeting youth with disabilities, with over 30% of funded projects expected to address the unique employment challenges faced by this group, surpassing the original target of 20% under the new Youth with Disabilities Stream.