People whose jobs were affected by COVID-19, and those in vulnerable or underrepresented groups, will be able to access new training and job opportunities to find their place as the economy recovers from COVID-19.
“The path for people to a job they love getting up for in the morning can sometimes be bumpy,” stated Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons in a media release. “Our government is investing to make it as smooth as possible for people to get themselves into the workforce and contribute to prosperous communities as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and build a stronger BC.”
The release stated that many programs are already underway and additional training opportunities will start in the next few months. Programs being offered on the Sunshine Coast include Vancouver Island University delivering the pre-employment services program to 35 people with disabilities, with an investment of $209,395. The Ethos Career Management Group will deliver the RiseUP program to 56 people, with an investment of $726,733. The Open Door Group will deliver the career pathways to success program to 64 persons with disabilities and 40 survivors of domestic violence with investments of $590,478 and $516,526, respectively.
Simons said a total of $95 million has been allocated to organizations around the province that provide skills training and employment services to more than 9,000 people. This investment includes provincial and federal funding through the Canada-BC workforce development agreement. This is part of the government’s economic recovery plan to help thousands of people upskill or re-skill and find good, sustainable jobs, the release stated.
These programs complement a provincial investment of $20 million earlier this year for short-term training projects to help people enter or rejoin the workforce.
