First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)'s First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy supports initiatives to provide First Nations and Inuit youth with work experience information about career options and opportunities to develop skills to help gain employment and develop careers.
The strategy is part of the Government of Canada's effort to enhance education, participation in the labour market and economic success of Indigenous people in Canada. It is a component of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy led by Employment and Social Development Canada.
ISC is responsible for employment and skills development for First Nations and Inuit youth under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
The annual budget for this strategy is $26 million. Since its launch in 1997, it has provided close to 150,000 opportunities to First Nations and Inuit youth.
The strategy also helps First Nations and Inuit youth, between the ages of 15 and 30, who are ordinarily resident on reserve or in recognized communities to:
- develop and enhance essential employability skills
- get exposed to a variety of career options
- understand the benefits of education as key to labour market participation
- gain co-operative education work and study opportunities
ISC delivers 2 programs under the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy:
- the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program: supports initiatives to help First Nations and Inuit youth acquire skills, prepare for full-time employment and earn income to support post-secondary education, through summer work experiences
- the First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program: supports initiatives that help First Nations and Inuit youth acquire essential employability and job-related skills, learn about job and career options and prepare for employment and career development