Main Objective
Facilitate the transition of barriered youth, aged 15- 30, into meaningful jobs in Canada’s bio-economy, bridging the gap between talent and industry while enabling employers to strengthen their workforce.
The program objectives are to:
- Help youth with barriers and youth furthest from employment achieve the work experience and skills they need to seamlessly transition into employment or confidently return to education.
- Provide barriered youth with individualized job supports to enhance their continued employment upon program completion.
- Focus on fostering diversity and inclusion across the industry by targeting 60% representation from underrepresented groups. These groups include individuals with disabilities, Indigenous youth, recent immigrants/refugees, racialized Canadians and those identifying as 2SLGBTQI+. The program is open to those at risk of homelessness, in low-income households, in rural/remote areas.
- Enhance the capacity of Canada’s bio-economy employers and encourage them to promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) by hiring youth furthest from employment.
Timeline
September 9, 2024 – March 31, 2028
Industry Need
BioTalent Canada’s 2021 Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) study of the Canadian bio-economy revealed a number of human resource (HR) challenges that directly affect youth employment. From the study, it was determined that:
- 85% of the Canadian bio-economy consists of small to medium-sized enterprises, and 70% of companies lack a formal HR Department.
- 40% of Canadian bio-economy companies report skills shortages.
- Access to capital is a key barrier for most bio-economy companies.
Despite these significant skills shortages, youth face significant barriers to entering the bio-economy after graduating from a university or college. Private sector companies regularly argue that it can be risky to take on new graduates with no previous work experience in the sector.
This viewpoint is in line with research conducted by BioTalent Canada’s member organization – Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) – whose 2019 Annual Report stated that the unemployment rate of Ontario Science graduates between 20-24 years of age with a minimum university degree was a staggering 18%, demonstrating the need to assist new grads in the transition into their new career.
Program Description
The 4-year Career Starter Program provides bio-economy employers with 60% of a youth’s salary up to a maximum of $20,000, including wrap-around services. This will minimize perceived risk and help employers adopt a diverse and inclusive work culture while satisfying their need for skilled labour.
To support bio-economy employers who wish to participate in the Career Starter Program, BioTalent Canda will also:
- Appoint a case manager to conduct one-on-one meetings with youth throughout the placement establishing tailored case plans with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.
- Virtual networking sessions with employers to better understand the program and learn how they can take steps to attract, recruit and retain youth furthest from employment.
- Supply Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) resources to employers participating in the intake process upon hiring a youth furthest from employment.
Funded in part by Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Strategy Program 
