A message from CAREERS: The Next Generation:
Alberta has a surprising challenge: youth unemployment. Despite being known as a province full of opportunity, nearly 14% of Albertans aged 15 to 24 struggle to find work, one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Canada.
According to Stefan Rutkowski, president and CEO of CAREERS: The Next Generation, part of the issue is that many young people are graduating high school with less work experience than previous generations.
"A lot of youth go through high school now with less work experience than they did in the past," says Rutkowski. "They don't work part-time jobs as much or at all anymore, so they're missing out on foundational skills training. It's important to engage youth early."
That's where CAREERS comes in. Founded in Fort McMurray in 1997, the non-profit organization began when Syncrude executives recognized a growing number of retirement-age workers and the need to foster the next generation of skilled employees. While the trades were the organization's original focus, CAREERS has since expanded into new industries and career pathways across Alberta.
"The trades were at the core, but we have branched out into other industrial sectors," Rutkowski says. "Agriculture is the second largest. We are in health, forestry, environment, and information and communication technologies. We started in aviation and manufacturing, too."
The process is simple. Students from nearly every Alberta high school can apply through the CAREERS website. Representatives connect with students to learn more about their interests and experience, schools help support the application process, and CAREERS matches students with vetted employers for potential interviews and paid internship opportunities.
The program benefits both youth and industry. Students gain valuable workplace experience and exposure to potential career pathways before making major post-secondary decisions. Employers, meanwhile, help shape the future workforce while addressing labour shortages within their industries.
"And employers have a hand in developing the skills that industry will need in the future," Rutkowski says.
Participating employers can also access support through the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive Program, which helps offset wages for employers hiring youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
For CAREERS, ensuring internships are paid is an important part of the model.
"We believe it's important that youth are seen as valuable intern employees," says Rutkowski. "We want to make sure young people understand that they're getting paid, so they need to show up and do valuable work."
The impact has been significant. Last year alone, CAREERS facilitated more than 5,600 internships for Alberta youth. As industries evolve and career pathways continue to shift, programs like CAREERS are helping bridge the gap between education and employment, while giving young people the opportunity to explore careers before committing to a path.
"We want to help them understand there are a bunch of different career pathways that they can explore or embark on at that age," Rutkowski says. "The CAREERS program might help them figure out what they want to do."
To learn more or apply, visit CAREERS: The Next Generation.