For most Canadian teens, there’s a “catch-22” to finding a first job:
1. You can’t get a job without experience.
2. You can’t get experience without a job.
This is at the crux of the global youth unemployment crises.
In Canada, youth unemployment rates reached 13.3 per cent in October 2015. In fact, according to a Youth Employment Survey by Nestlé Canada, it was revealed that while youth unemployment is a prevalent issue across Canada, only 25 per cent of Canadians say their place of employment offers intern/apprenticeship programs to help youth gain entry-level experience.
So, how can youths help your workforce? Think about it. Given today’s technologically savvy environment, Canadians agree that the strongest skills and qualities that this demographic brings to the table are social media expertise (68 per cent) and IT knowledge (65 per cent). A strong percentage also recognize this group provides added value through their fresh perspective (58 per cent) and bridge the gap by tapping into today’s trends (55 per cent).
Therefore, we know that youths are integral to staying innovative and ahead of the curve. And, I’m happy to share that Nestlé Canada recently announced the launch of its Youth Initiative, a multifaceted program designed to provide tangible training opportunities and experiences for more than 5,000 young adults over the next three years.
Nestlé’s Youth Initiative will offer young Canadian youths the opportunity to develop their professional skills, increase their employability and expand their network. The value of this type of tangible work experience and hands-on training opportunity is unequivocal to Canadians, with nearly all (96 per cent) in agreement that internships and apprenticeship programs are valuable tools that help youth gain practical and valuable experience they can use to enter the workforce. …