4 London area agencies share $2.5M to help people land jobs
CBC
Organizations working with job-seekers in the London, Ont., area were the recipients of provincial funding aimed at getting people into the trades, retail and other industries in need of employees.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton made the $2.5-million announcement Thursday at Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), one of four local groups receiving a portion of the money.
Recent figures from Statistics Canada show there are more than 270,000 job vacancies in Ontario. The province said more than 17,000 jobs are unfilled in the London area.
McNaughton said the funding is for apprenticeship programs, financial literacy courses, as well as access to free equipment such as work boots and tools. He said some organizations will also use the money to support childcare, transportation and mental health resources.
"These free projects will help level the playing field and give disadvantaged young people, seniors – everyone in between – in London a chance at better jobs and bigger paycheques," McNaughton said in a statement.
The groups receiving funding are:
"We have people come to us who have lost motivation with the job search. There's a lot of ageism. But they have the ability and the need to work," said Rodolfo Martinez from Over 55 London.
"It's going to help us give them better coaching and training to help a lot more people land that job."
Steve Cordes, the executive director at YOU, said funding will help support dozens of young people pursuing careers in the trades through paid internships.
"We're working with Fanshawe College and Michael + Clark Construction to provide skilled training, on-the-job paid experience and additional supports that will help 60 youth pursue careers in construction trades," Cordes said.
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