Experience, Summer Jobs, and Entry Level Jobs

• We will support an annual Forum on Youth Recruitment and Retention to provide opportunities for young people to meet with key stakeholders to discuss youth employment issues and identify proactive measures to address emerging challenges.
• Themes for the annual forum will be developed in partnership with the Youth Partnership Forum, business, and labour sectors. Consistent with priorities identified by youth and stakeholders during the development of the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, a proposed theme for the first annual forum will focus on best practices for engaging young workers in the workplace, including creating labour market pathways through mentorships, experiential-based learning, and personal development.
• We will expand and enhance the Graduate Employment Program.
• We will support the Advancing Non-Profit and Voluntary Investments in Learning (ANVIL). This initiative will help advance work-term opportunities for co-operative education students while providing support to non-profit and voluntary groups that continue to invest in the social, cultural, and economic base of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• We will expand access to existing internship opportunities and summer jobs to increase access to internship placements and summer jobs for approximately 100 secondary and post-secondary students each year.

Jobs, Benefits, and Wages

• We will develop a feasibility paper on family-friendly policy options for Newfoundland and Labrador to help identify incentives and programs that could be implemented to attract and retain young families in Newfoundland and Labrador. Recent examples, such as the province's Parental Supplement to enhance maternity benefits are examples of the types of public incentives that could be implemented.

Career Planning and Information

• We will expand access to career information resources to assist local service providers in helping to ensure young people throughout the province have access to reliable career information and orientation activities they need to make good decisions about their future training and career options.

Workplace/Working Conditions

• We will support the Public Service in examining and implementing best practices for retention of young workers in the Public Service.
• We will support the Public Service and Office for Youth Engagement in establishing a Provincial Government Support Network for Young Employees.
• We will expand Professional Development Opportunities for participants in the Graduate Employment Program.
• We will support youth in accessing information and resources to increase their awareness of workplace safety issues and better prepare them to assume a leadership role in influencing the evolution of safe workplace cultures as they enter the workforce. This initiative will provide access to resources, such as the national online program "Passport to Safety Program", for young people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Business Supports and Economic Development

• We will implement a Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Program to provide wage subsidies and skills enhancement support to youth striving to establish and grow self-employment opportunities especially in rural areas.
• We will develop a best practices manual for family-friendly workplace practices.
• We will support the Entrepreneurship Forum to target youth entrepreneurs from each region and enable them to collaborate with a panel of business advisors for mentorship and direction.
• We will introduce a grant program for businesses to implement innovative workplace skills development practices for students.
• We will introduce an Export Internship Program to support employers in hiring qualified graduates with training in international business.
• We will continue to support the ongoing development of entrepreneurial information resources and employer recruitment and retention resources with a focus on youth.

Download the CPRN Report "Making Newfoundland and Labrador a Province of Choice"

• Strengthen partnerships with public agencies and the private and non-profit sectors to increase intern training opportunities and co-op programs.
• Encourage the private and non-profit sectors to create partnerships with high schools, colleges and universities to develop entry-level job opportunities that provide initial career work experience.
• Regularly increase the minimum wage.
• Enhance and expand local partnerships among schools, post-secondary institutions and employers to help shape the curriculum for career development.
• Work with the school system and existing career development/employment offices to make understanding the labour market information system a part of the high school curriculum.
• Enhance opportunities to strengthen the role and service of career counsellors and guidance counsellors.
• Continue to emphasize protection for young workers under occupational health and safety laws.
• Work with employer and labour representatives to encourage the private sector to support their employees through skills and career development programs.
• Collaborate with small business organizations to implement career development strategies for employees.
• Further youth entrepreneurship by encouraging opportunities for young people to engage with experienced business owners and entrepreneurs...interactive information on youth entrepreneurship should be readily available.
• Continue to support the development of co-operatives in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Encourage entrepreneurs to create businesses to support long-term and diversified economic development with less reliance on non-renewable resources; encourage eco-tourism; and, protect the environment.

".one thing I noticed out of today's discussion is a disconnect between what employers are currently doing and what youth are aware of. This is something we can take away and work on."

Youth Participant

"Government needs to partner with industry leaders and organizations to ensure that employment opportunities for young people are competitive. Incentives such as competitive wage packages, permanent positions, medical benefits, continuing education and pension planning do make a difference."

Stakeholder

"The issues of student debt and availability of entry level jobs are major factors that force our youth away."

Youth Participant

"Keeping Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in the province is the most effective way to build the economy, keep wealth in the province, and support rural communities."

Stakeholder

"Opportunities are required to provide youth with job experience to help them prepare for future employment opportunities and also to allow them to the opportunity to "test the waters" for future career choices."

Stakeholder