The Career Navigator

Abstract

Greater Toronto, Canada—

• In the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, United Way Greater Toronto runs the Career Navigator programme to support young people who face multiple barriers entering the labour market.

• By providing employer-informed training, education and personalised wrap-around support, Career Navigator provides young people with the skills that meet the unique needs of employers.

• Since its inception, 1 507 people have completed at least one component of the Career Navigator Programme (training, internship or apprenticeship).

What are the objectives?

The key objective of the Career Navigator programme is to provide an education-to-employment pathway programme for young people between 17-29 years old who face multiple barriers to accessing and securing stable income.

How does it work in practice?

Career Navigator provides access to a set of interrelated education, training and wrap-around support services, designed to help young people gain the industry-recognised credentials needed for career opportunities in five growing sectors: Computer Systems Design and Related Services, Retail, Construction and Advanced Manufacturing, Accommodation and Food Services, and Healthcare and Social Assistance. The programme is designed to engage employers in different ways: influence the technical and soft skills curricula, interview and participate in the intake and assessment of candidates, provide guest speakers, host tours in the work environment and provide job opportunities. By providing employer-informed training, education and personalised wrap-around support, Career Navigator provides young people with the skills that meet the unique needs of employers.

The project is run by United Way Greater Toronto (a worldwide non-for-profit community) which is the largest investor in social services in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. The organisation works through a network of community agencies to deliver services and provide support in addressing poverty and its related issues locally.

What has been the impact?

Since its inception, 1,507 people have completed at least one component of the Career Navigator Programme (training, internship or apprenticeship). Out of this number, about 54% (810) gained immediate employment after the programme. In addition, out of the 707 participants who completed both the Career Navigator post-secondary training or soft skills training and internship, about 77% (541) gained immediate employment after finishing. Out of 1,285 who were unemployed at the beginning of the program, 1087 (84%) completed at least one component of the programme and close to 51% of them transitioned to being employed immediately after.

What can other communities learn from this example?

One of the success factors for Career Navigator has been providing wrap-around support services, case management and more peer-to-peer support networks to help the youth address their challenges. About 71% of the participants received at least one type of wrap-around support while participating in the programme and most received a combination of support. In addition, the focus on meeting both participant and employer needs and on integrating soft skills training have been instrumental in the success of the programme.

To recruit and engage the youth who face multiple barriers, the programme has developed partnerships with organisations that address the specific needs of the target group and develop more youth-friendly strategies.

Further information

• Career Navigator - United Way Greater Toronto (unitedwaygt.org)

OECD resources

OECD (2022), "Future-proofing adult learning systems in cities and regions: A policy manual for local governments", OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers, No. 2022/03, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/11fa26cc-en.