In November 2013, the BC Centre for Employment Excellence launched a research project on the challenges that BC youth face in the labour market, as well as innovative strategies for addressing them. The project involved a call for papers invited researchers from around the province to submit proposals to explore youth employment barriers from a variety of angles, and to identify promising solutions for such issues as supporting youth who are entering the labour market or helping them find work that is a better match for their skills.
The papers produced through this research program were presented at a June 2014 symposium in Vancouver involving stakeholders from a wide variety of perspectives, including researchers, practitioners, policy makers and other subject matter experts. The research teams also presented their findings during a series of webinars hosted by the Centre.
These five studies offer new insights into the current state of research on youth employment service delivery in BC. They also provide an opportunity for the Centre to engage its stakeholders to identify innovative solutions to address the barriers and challenges that various populations of BC youth face in finding work and achieving their career ambitions.
Click on the below links to learn more about each of the projects and download the papers:
- Study of Demand-Led Labour Market Strategies to Improve Employment Outcomes for British Columbia Youth (Tom Zizys)
- Understanding Current Employment Programming and Services for Lower Mainland Youth Living with Mental Illness (YMCA of Greater Vancouver)
- The Value of Paid or Unpaid Short-term Work Placements for Refugee and Immigrant Youth (MOSAIC)
- Pathways to Success for Youth in BC’s Capital Region: The Power and Potential of Social Enterprise in High Demand Sectors (Community Social Planning Council)
- Negotiating the Barriers to Employment: Vulnerable BC Youth’s Experiences and Recommendations (McCreary Centre Society)
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.