CIC s Settlement Labour Market Initiatives

CIC s Settlement Labour Market Initiatives

Purpose of this session General purpose of the session is to describe how labour market/employment activities are part of the National Settlement Program (NSP) Copie de la présentation est aussi disponible en français 2

What s new CIC recently renewed the Settlement Program Terms and Conditions effective April 1 st, 2013. Greater focus on performance measurement Distinction between direct and indirect services No changes to client eligibility The Settlement Program logic model was also updated. New Performance Measurement Strategy (PMS) currently in development will inform the measurement of settlement outcomes. 3

Quick Reminder - Planning and Coordination National Priorities Identified in the three year national plan (2013-2016): o Minimum of 90% of funding: direct services (generally in-person services). o o Maximum of 10% of funding: indirect initiatives to provide services to employers that indirectly benefit clients; services to address community capacity such as local partnerships; and enhance tools, curriculum, and increase capacity in the service provider community. Service delivery: Avoid duplication among CIC funded services and those funded by others (PTs, municipalities, private sector and other government departments) and encourage programming that can achieve multiple outcomes with one service (ie language conversation circles, labour market information as content for language training) o Demonstrate outcomes for newcomers through robust collection of information about project results. Regional priorities o o Regional priority setting exercise is currently taking place to support the upcoming Call for Proposals Skills Connect will be renewed for 1 year using BC s deferred funds. Discussion on-going about post April 2015. 4

Updated Settlement Program Logic Model 2013-14 Service Delivery Program Components Needs Assessment & Referrals Direct Services Information & Orientation Language Training Employment Related Community Connections Indirect Services Program Development & Management Target Groups Support Services offered across the Program to enable access to direct services: childcare, transportation, translation, interpretation, crisis counselling, and provisions for disabilities Newcomers (eligible clients) Communities & Groups [Employers] Service Providers/ Funding Recipients Outputs Immediate Outcomes Intermediate Outcomes Formal needs assessments (including follow-ups or reassessments) Referrals to appropriate settlement services Settlement plans based on assessed needs and objectives Information products Orientation sessions & workshops (domestic and overseas) Individual & family consultations or counselling Basic skills development & training Language assessments Language training placements Formal language training classes Informal language training sessions Literacy classes Skills development & training Work placements Employment networking Client-Mentor matches Employment counselling Clients receive appropriate information and services to address settlement needs Clients attain awareness of community and other resources to deal with settlement issues Clients gain knowledge of life in Canada, including laws, rights, and responsibilities Clients learn official language skills and other skills for adapting to Canadian society Clients acquire knowledge, skills, and connections related to the Canadian work environment Clients have connections to communities and public institutions Services connecting newcomers to public institutions and their communities Cross-cultural interactions and related activities Community activities Clients make informed decisions about life in Canada, enjoy rights and act on their responsibilities in Canadian society Clients use official languages to function and participate in Canadian society Clients participate in local labour markets, broader communities and social networks Community partnerships for local planning & coordination Culturalsensitivity initiatives for professionals and partners outside of settlement sector Initiatives for accessing foreign-trained workforce Capacity development and planning activities for nationally consistent service delivery Competency development and training activities Best practice activities & pilots for service delivery innovation Partners & stakeholders are engaged in settlement and implement strategies to address newcomers needs Provision of settlement services is consistent, innovative and coordinated Settlement and non-settlement services are responsive to the needs of newcomers and communities Governance Policy research National & regional plans Program design, implementation strategies and related tools Program monitoring and performance measurement frameworks Functional guidance, support and training Program development, management and governance effectively support consistent and responsive program delivery Ultimate Outcomes Newcomers contribute to the economic, social and cultural development needs of Canada (PAA) Newcomer settlement and integration is supported in Canadian society Departmental Strategic Outcome (SO3) Newcomers and citizens participate in fostering an integrated society (PAA) 5

Labour Market Outcomes It is old news that immigrant economic outcomes lag behind the Canadian-born. What recent research is telling us though is that the story varies: Geography plays a key role with outcomes varying quite dramatically across the country. Immigrants in small centres often have better outcomes. Early attachment to the labour market or ready-made networks improve outcomes. Some groups, such as Government Assisted Refugees and youth, face significant barriers in accessing the labour market. 6

Current Labour Market Programming Labour market outcomes are one of the key indicators used to measure the success of Canada s immigration program; A decline in labour market outcomes among new immigrants to Canada has been observed; A job can be the most effective integration program. Key CIC settlement labour market activities are: Employment bridging programs that combine Canadian work experience or mentoring with a language and/or skills component (e.g. Enhanced Language Training - ELT); Assistance with a newcomer s initial job search abilities such as resume preparation, career mapping, interview skills, job posting access etc. ; Initiatives that seek to build connections between employers and the immigrant labour pool such as online matching systems, hr services to employers that help them access the job ready clients of service providers. Additional projects include: Work experience initiatives (mentoring, internships, work placements); Services targeted at a particular group with challenges in entering the labour market (women, youth etc.); Skill upgrading initiatives such as literacy, computer skills and cultural competencies (soft skills). 7

The full landscape of immigrant integration There are a variety of players and interventions at the federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector levels for labour market integration of newcomers Immigrant integration funding programs Labour market focus CIC Settlement Program FCRO Multiculturalism (workplace diversity) Provincial immigrant programs Private Foundations (Maytree, etc) Private sector (ie RBC funding for mentorship programs) Immigrant services to facilitate labour market integration Mainstream labour market services Private sector business drivers for hiring immigrants (shortages, talent management) (employers, sector councils, hr professionals) Labour market integration Labour market funding programs immigrant focus HRSDC (ie youth) Service Canada PT labour departments Health Canada PT health departments LMA programming (devolved to province) LMDA programming (devolved to province EI eligibility required) Regional Economic development Agencies Provincial advanced education departments PT and municipal economic development 8

CIC and labour market integration Knowledge of the Canadian labour market, Canadian work experience, official language ability and credential recognition are the major barriers to employment faced by newcomers Information and Orientation Employment Services Language Training (Business) Community Connections Foreign Credential Referral Office Job Search Workshops - Orientation to the labour market (ie resume and interview technique refinement) -Entrepreneurship orientation -Working in Canada Tool Work Experience Soft skills development Essential skills upgrades Mentoring Professional Networking Resume matching General language training Occupational specific language training Local Immigration Partnerships Engagement with employers/ sector councils HR services to employers Facilitate credential recognition with provincial regulatory bodies Employer s Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers Canadian Immigration Integration Program (CIIP) Labour market access leading to labour market Integration 9

Discussion In British Columbia, are there gaps in labour market services for newcomers? Are there any special considerations for labour market integration outside of the Lower mainland? Are there best practices in the province we should learn from? 10