Up to 16 immigrants and refugees in Vancouver are getting the training they need to become health care assistants and care aides, thanks to a federal-provincial partnership under the Canada–B.C. Job Fund Agreement.

More than $270,000 has been allocated to MOSAIC (Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities) to deliver the Care Aide Training for Employment project to immigrants and refugees in B.C.

MOSAIC has partnered with Sprott Shaw Community College to deliver the classroom training, which is currently underway and is expected to finish in March 2017. After the participants have completed their classroom training, they will be in practicum training from March to May, with job placements from May to June 2017. 

This project is part of an investment of more than $12 million for 49 training projects benefiting approximately 2,000 British Columbians throughout the province, thanks to funding provided through the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement under the Employer-Sponsored Training stream.

The skills training projects support B.C.’s regional labour-market demands and provide opportunities to youth, women, Aboriginal people, immigrants and other eligible participants to receive training, as well as industry-recognized certificates or credentials.

Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada provides $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training. Under the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund Agreement, the province receives a total of $65 million per year — its per-capita share of the available funding.

The Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement helps ensure training programs give individuals the skills to enter and succeed in the job market. The Employer-Sponsored Training stream provides funding for project-based, time-limited, employer-driven training that leads to a job at the end of training. This includes targeted projects delivered by Aboriginal service providers, post-secondary institutions, industry associations, community groups, and private trainers that meet regional labour market needs. Employers also provide either financial or in-kind contributions to support the training.

Quotes:

Sam Sullivan, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek–

“Health care assistants and care aides are in demand in our province, and this program will help immigrants and refugees gain the skills they need to pursue these job opportunities in our province. I wish all the participants best of luck in completing their training and future careers.”

Joan Andersen, MOSAIC director of employment and language services–

“We have so many newcomers who worked in health care in their home countries and haven't been able to find work in their field in B.C. Thanks to the Province and our employer partners, this training gives internationally trained health professionals the opportunity they've been waiting for.”

Patrick Dang, president of Sprott Shaw Community College–

“Recent demand for health care attendant graduates has reached an all-time high and our graduates are getting jobs at a faster rate in the health care sector than any other sector today. We are honoured to have been selected as an educational provider to deliver qualified health care attendant graduates to fill the huge gap in this important sector and we are especially proud to work hand in hand with MOSAIC and our local government in creating skills links to employment for immigrants, refugees and also unemployed people wanting to enter today’s workforce.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. is expecting almost one million job openings by 2025.
• According to the B.C. 2025 Labour Market Outlook, up to 596,400 job openings are expected in the Mainland/Southwest region by 2025.
• Health care assistant and care aide were among the top priority health professions in B.C. in 2015.
• Two-thirds of B.C.’s job openings will be from retirements and one-third from economic growth.
• Almost 80% of job openings in B.C. will require post-secondary education.
• The B.C. government invests more than $7.8 billion each year in education and training.
• Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, $3 billion in training investments will be redirected to in-demand jobs over the next 10 years.
• The project announced today supports the government’s commitment to deepen B.C.’s technology talent pool through a variety of actions, including improving access to timely and relevant labour market information, as outlined in the #BCTECH Strategy.
• The 10-year strategy includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund to improve access to capital, as well as initiatives to increase talent development and market growth for tech companies to drive innovation and productivity throughout the province.

Learn More:

MOSAIC: https://www.mosaicbc.org/

Canada Job Fund: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/training_agreements/cjf/index.shtml    

British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint:  https://www.workbc.ca/skills 

B.C. Labour Market Outlook 2025: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx

#BCTECH Strategy: http://bctechstrategy.gov.bc.ca/