Yorkton, Sept. 2, 2014 – Recognizing the need to assist local youth in finding employment and preparing for the future, the federal government has committed over $130,000 to the Parkland College for a project entitled Building Long Term Sustainable Employment Skills for Success.  The funding is the result of a successful application by the Parkland College to the federal government’s Skills Link Program 2014-2016 which is a part of the Youth Employment Strategy.

 “Skills Link is a client-centered program that provides funding for employers and organizations to offer activities to youth facing barriers to employment,” said Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville. “This project, which will be administered by the Parkland College, will help youth right here develop the skills and knowledge necessary to fully participate in the current and future labour markets.  These are life-long skills and tools that, if learned and used, have the ability to change lives.”

Beginning this September, the College, with the co-operation and assistance of the Yorkton Tribal Council, will begin working with 24 area youth to help them overcome barriers to employment.  The participants selected will have identified their need for skills enhancement, developed an employment action plan and confirmed their commitment to the plan. The 30-week program will include Life Skills and Employability Skills workshops, action plan assessments, and work experience for five days per week for a total of 30 hours per week for six weeks. The work placements will be chosen based on the interests and skills demonstrated by the participants. Most of the placements will occur in the service sector, tourism sector and the trades based on the labour market needs in Yorkton and area. 

“Our area continues to experience growth in a number of sectors and there are many opportunities for gainful employment,” said Breitkreuz. “The jobs are here, but connecting the line between potential employee and employer is sometimes not automatic.”
According to the Labour Market Bulletin, May 2014, the current unemployment rate for Yorkton-Melville area is 5.3 per cent, however the rate of unemployment for youth age 15-24 in the area is at 7.5 per cent.  As of April 2014, the off-reserve Aboriginal unemployment rate for Saskatchewan was 11.3 per cent which is more than twice as high as the unemployment rate for non-Aboriginal persons (11.3 per cent vs. 5.3 per cent).  This project will focus on assisting Aboriginal people to bridge that gap.

Saskatchewan's strong employment creation continues to have a positive impact on the construction industry.  As well, mining and food processing are emerging sectors in Yorkton and area, with a potash mining operation expected to be completed by 2017 immediately south of Yorkton, and two new food processing plants just west of the city having gone into operation in recent years. These sectors have opened up many employment possibilities for people of the area and will continue to do so for some time.

“Providing our youth with the opportunity to see what’s out there and teaching them how to reach those jobs and careers is invaluable.  That is what this project endeavors to do, and why our government whole-heartedly stands behind it,” said Breitkreuz.

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