What is the project?
This pilot (February 2016-December 2017) examined the role of Employment Social Enterprises (ESEs) in supporting labour market transitions for youth in BC facing barriers to developing their career potential.
The project team engaged WorkBC Centres, employers and social entrepreneurs in Vancouver to generate temporary paid work placements in ESEs for barriered youth. Referrals of youth for ESE placements came from WorkBC Centres, which were involved in both the identification of ESE employment opportunities that would provide effective transitional experience and skill development for their clients, as well as the provision of pre- and post-placement supports.
The project was designed to compare the experiences and outcomes of youth clients who were referred to placements against the experiences of a similar number of youth in a comparison group that would not be offered ESE placements but wouldcontinue to access any WorkBC programs and services for which they were eligible.
What is the project trying to address?
The evaluation was designed to examine the effectiveness of ESE paid placement opportunities in providing valuable employment experience as well as on-the job hard and soft skill training to increase the employability and potential long-term employment outcomes of youth participants.
This evaluation of this project utilized a mixed methods approach to address two key research questions:
- What do employment service providers, employers, community groups, social entrepreneurs and others need to be doing to help identify and/or establish transitional ESE placements that benefit local youth facing significant labour market barriers?
- Do transitional placements in ESEs lead to improved outcomes for at-risk youth compared to conventional service delivery and referral options available through WorkBC employment service centres?
While there has been considerable research on the potential role of social enterprises in supporting job seekers’ transitions into the labour market, there is little rigorous evidence to establish the relative merits of this approach when offered within the context of more conventional employment programs and services. For a case to be made to expand support and investment to ESEs in policy and practice, further evaluation is required to speak to their relative effectiveness and fit with existing service delivery practices.
Who are the partners on the project?
The project represented a partnership between the BC Centre for Employment Excellence (CfEE) and the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria.
The CfEE managed the pilot project and was responsible for meeting the overall planning, organization and reporting requirements of the study. The CfEE team also conducted a multifaceted evaluation of the program. The CfEE is based in Vancouver and was created by the Government of British Columbia in 2012 to enhance the knowledge and development needs of the employment services sector and the employer community in BC on issues related to employment programs and practices.
The Community Social Planning Council contributed knowledge subject matter expertise with respect to social enterprise capacity and development. It also convened and facilitated youth employment networks in the Capital Region and helped establish links to WorkBC Centres, mainstream employers as well as educational and training institutions. The Community Social Planning Council leads social, economic and environmental planning in BC’s Capital Region. It has more than 70 years’ experience engaging community members and organizations, businesses and government to research social issues and create sustainable solutions.
Full Project Reports Now Available
If you would like to read more about the design and development of the project, we invite you to read the Interim Report that you can download here.
The project’s final report, including findings and lessons learned, can be downloaded from here.
The pilot was funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction’s Research and Innovation Fund.
For queries about this project or other research activities being undertaken by the BC Centre for Employment Excellence, please contact Shawn de Raaf, Research Director.