The Canadian government has announced more than $ 1.6 million for a youth employment agency in Nunavut in Canada’s Far North.
The Indigenous-led Ilitaqsiniq-Nunavut Literacy Council “will receive up to $ 1,649,066 to help approximately 72 youth across the territory acquire the skills needed to get and keep good jobs,” a government statement said. .
The latter recalls the conclusions of the Conference Board of Canada which predicts that economic growth in the Far North will be greater than that of the rest of Canada, but “the low participation of young Aboriginals in learning and employment is marked throughout the North. “
The project called Northern Indigenous Youth Employment will enable these young people to “participate in programs that promote traditional language and culture and also teach skills in the workplace.” “
This would prepare them “to seize the growing employment opportunities offered in the region. “
One of our Government’s priorities is to provide young Canadians, particularly in the North and the Arctic region, with the tools and work experience they need to overcome barriers to employment as our economy continues to recover. I was happy to meet the Ilitaqsiniq-Nunavut Literacy Council, visit their workshop and learn more about this innovative project and other programs offered to support young people. I can’t wait to see how this project unfolds, which will make a real difference in the lives of young people in Nunavut and the North.Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs Canada
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Some facts
- Often, Aboriginal youth are not very present in the labor market across the North:
- At Nunavut, the participation rate of Aboriginal youth aged 15 to 29 fell to 21.6% in May 2021, compared to 48.6% in September 2020. In comparison, non-Aboriginal youth in the territory have a stable participation rate. , fluctuating between 75.1% in May 2021 and 76.9% in September 2020.
- In May 2021, in the Northwest Territories, the participation rate for Indigenous youth was the highest in the territories (62.4%).
- During the same period, at Yukon, the participation rate of Indigenous youth reached 46.3%, 25.4 percentage points lower than non-Indigenous youth (71.1%).
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With information from the Government of Canada
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