- What is the status of Second Career? Are you going to keep funding it?
Ontario's Second Career program will continue to help laid-off and unemployed workers train for new careers in high-demand fields. Ontario's Fall Economic Statement announced funding of $294.7 million to support training and employment programs, including Second Career.
Beginning November 20, 2009, new guidelines will be introduced for Second Career. The new evaluation process will focus on helping laid-off Ontarians in need who will benefit most from skills training.
We'll continue to review applications for Second Career with priority given to those who have been kept waiting the longest and those with January starts for courses. Due to the volume of applications, it may not be possible for everyone who is eligible to start school in January.
Applications that are not yet approved by the ministry will be reassessed under the new guidelines.
In order to simplify the delivery of Employment Ontario programs, the new guidelines apply to both Second Career and Ontario Skills Development participants. Ontarians can still apply for short-term or long-term training.
- Why isn't the Ontario government providing more support to help laid-off workers find training?
Ontario's Fall Economic Statement announced funding of $294.7 million to support training and employment programs, including Second Career. This funding refers to investment changes made since the 2009 Budget to provide support for the unprecedented demand for our Employment Ontario programs due to the economic crisis.
In order to ensure that our training and employment programs respond to Ontario's labour market needs and are fiscally responsible, the ministry is reviewing select Employment Ontario programs.
The ministry is not accepting new applications to Ontario Self-Employment Benefit and Labour Market Partnerships at this time.
Ontario Self-Employment Benefits will undergo a review and changes will be made to ensure the program provides individuals with the skills they need to become self-employed. We must also ensure that we meet our current commitments to clients already enrolled in the program.
The ministry will continue to work with clients and partners within existing Ontario Self- Employment Benefit program and Ontario Labour Market Partnerships agreements.
All other programs offered through Employment Ontario remain available to help laid-off and unemployed workers.
- You planned on training 20,000 people over three years and you've hit the target in half the time. Is the money all gone?
Ontario's Second Career program will continue to help laid-off and unemployed workers train for new careers in high-demand fields. Ontario's Fall Economic Statement announced funding of about $294.7 million to support employment and training programs, including Second Career.
Launch in June 2008, Second Career exceeded its three-year goal of helping 20,000 laid-off workers after only 16 months.
The program will continue to provide financial support for tuition, books, travel and other expenses to help workers participate in short- and long-term training programs.
- What are the new guidelines for Second Career?
Beginning November 20, 2009, changes to Second Career will focus the program on helping laid-off and unemployed Ontarians in need who will benefit most from training to find work. Ontario's Fall Economic Statement announced funding of $294.7 million to support employment and training programs, including Second Career.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Are gaining new skills for a high-demand occupation
- Have been unemployed for a long period of time
- Have a high-school education or less, or postsecondary education credentials that are not recognized in Ontario
- Are working toward a college certificate, diploma or license
Applicants will also be assessed on financial need and may be asked to contribute to their training.
Program changes mean greater flexibility for Ontario families. Second Career participants will now be allowed to attend school on a part-time basis.
Applicants must demonstrate that the career they want to train for is one that is in demand.
In order to simplify the delivery of Employment Ontario programs, the new guidelines apply to both Second Career and Ontario Skills Development participants. Ontarians can still apply for short-term or long-term training.
Applications that are not yet approved by the ministry will be reassessed under the new guidelines.
- What do I need to do to prove the career I want to train for is in demand?
You will need to provide the ministry with proof such as job ads in your local newspaper or a letter from an employer that intends to hire. Your assessment centre can advise you on how to best gather this information.
- Do the new guidelines mean fewer people will be able to receive Second Career support?
Yes. Beginning November 20, 2009, changes to the Second Career evaluation process will focus the program on helping laid-off and unemployed workers in need who will benefit most from training to find work. Ontario's Fall Economic Statement announced$294.7 million to support employment and training programs, including Second Career.
- What do you mean when you say Second Career will help people most in need? Don't most people benefit from training?
The new evaluation process will focus on helping laid-off and unemployed Ontarians in need who will benefit most from training to find work.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Are gaining new skills for a high-demand occupation
- Have been unemployed for a long period of time
- Have a high-school education or less, or postsecondary education credentials that are not recognized in Ontario
- Are working toward a college certificate, diploma or license
Applicants will also be assessed on financial need and may be asked to contribute to their training.
This means that clients and their assessment centre will have a more detailed discussion of skills and career goals. The new guidelines also ask applicants to conduct more research on training programs offered by local colleges and career colleges, including, for the first time, part-time courses.
In order to simplify the delivery of Employment Ontario programs, the new guidelines apply to both Second Career and Ontario Skills Development participants. Ontarians can still apply for short-term or long-term training.
Trends in the job market show that people with more education and training are more likely to find and keep a job.
- Are Second Career participants finding new jobs after their training?
The goal of the Second Career program is to provide skill training to individuals in order to help them find sustainable employment in an occupation in demand in Ontario. The program began in June 2008 and it is too early to conduct a comprehensive evaluation in order to determine how successful the program has been. However, we are assessing the status of recent graduates and compiling important information on how Second Career has assisted individuals secure employment in occupations in demand in Ontario.
- How can you serve more clients when Second Career has a backlog of applications?
We want to help people who have been most affected by the global economic recession. For that reason, we are taking steps to make sure Second Career is sustainable over the long term and that it can continue to support to laid-off and unemployed Ontarians in need who will benefit most from training to find work.
We'll continue to review applications with priority given to those who have been kept waiting the longest and those with January starts for courses. Due to the volume of applications, it may not be possible for everyone who is eligible to start school in January.
In order to simplify the delivery of Employment Ontario programs, the new guidelines apply to both Second Career and Ontario Skills Development participants. Ontarians can still apply for short-term or long-term training.
- Now that the guidelines have changed, will people get less support now than those who were accepted last November?
Participants may be asked to make a greater contribution to their training depending on their financial situation.
We are taking steps to make sure Second Career is sustainable over the long term and that it can continue to support to laid-off and unemployed workers in need who will benefit most from training to find work.
In order to simplify the delivery of Employment Ontario programs, the new guidelines apply to both Second Career and Ontario Skills Development participants. Ontarians can still apply for short-term or long-term training.