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Global Heroes: “I was homeless and living on the street. I had almost lost hope… and then I said YES to YES!” said Jared, a YES client. “YES gave me new hope, found me a full-time job, and saved my life!” This is just one of the hundreds of thousands of success stories YES has fostered since its beginnings in 1968. With free employment training programs, YES has reduced poverty, created job opportunities, and built safer, more resilient communities across Canada.
Most youth who turn to YES face significant barriers to employment, ranging from mental health challenges to economic inequality. YES has proven to be an essential part of Canada’s social safety network, offering opportunities to those most in need. Toronto’s recognition by The Economist magazine as the top city globally for youth opportunity reflects this balance of economic growth and social support. This achievement is not just due to a thriving economy but also the existence of health care, education, and organizations like YES, which empower vulnerable youth to overcome obstacles and thrive.
According to Timothy Lang, YES President and CEO, “Canadian youth are the future drivers of our economy, and YES prepares tens of thousands of youth annually for this future.” By partnering with thousands of businesses, YES bridges the gap between youth and the evolving labour market, placing young people into meaningful jobs. Lang emphasizes that YES continuously innovates to stay ahead of market trends, offering programs aligned with the future of work, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, green jobs, and skilled trades. “Above all, we give new hope and resilience and truly change lives,” Lang added.
YES relies on a combination of government funding, corporate partnerships, and private donations to sustain its programs. Lang highlights how investing in youth through YES delivers measurable returns: “For every dollar invested, it returns $3 to the economy in the form of tax revenue, new spending, and reduced dependency on social services.” This impact is not only financial but also social, empowering individuals to regain stability and purpose. Another YES client shared: “I couldn’t find work for months and was losing hope, but thanks to YES, I am now part of a team and able to provide for my family.”
The ripple effect of YES’s work extends beyond individual clients—it strengthens families, businesses, and communities. By helping youth develop new skills and secure employment, YES ensures a brighter future for everyone. Their work exemplifies how meaningful support and opportunities can transform lives and make Canadian society more inclusive and prosperous.
CBC ‘The Current’ hosted YES CEO Tim Lang on panel to discuss Deloitte/King’s Trust Report on High Cost to economy of Youth Unemployment
National CBC Program, The Current, with host Paul Armstrong held a panel discussion with Guest Timothy Lang, YES President & CEO and Economist Armine Yalnizyan to discuss youth unemployment, which has not been this high since 2012. Lang discussed possible solutions, including YES and agencies across Canada that help youth find work. The latest report from Deloitte and King’s Trust pointed out that not solving the issue could lead to over $18B in lost GDP over the next 10 years. The investment into youth employment has a return to the economy that is significant, along with its helping youth create careers and drive the economic growth. Lang and Yalnizyan pointed out that the data is clear: investing in youth today has a long-term positive impact on the economy and helps change lives.
YES CEO Tim Lang Speaks to Global News Regarding Impact of High Youth Unemployment
Global news article “Youth unemployment is highest since 2012. What will it take to fix it?” interviewed Timothy Lang, YES President & CEO to discuss the issues around youth unemployment and possible solutions, including more support for organizations like YES, which help drive a stronger economy through employment and changing lives. “For every $1 dollar of funding to YES, it returns $3 to the economy in terms of new tax revenues, reduced social services, and much more” and Lang and YES have close to 60 years of servicing youth to demonstrate this impact.
-See article and video: https://globalnews.ca/news/10877336/youth-unemployment-fix-canada-cost-economy/
Toronto, ON – October 23, 2024 – Youth Employment Services Canada (YES Canada) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Green Skills Passport course, a groundbreaking initiative created by EY and Microsoft that will equip young Canadians with essential skills for a sustainable future. This new innovative training aims to bridge the gap between young job seekers and the growing green economy, fostering a new generation of professionals supporting an environmentally sustainable workforce.
The Green Skills Passport, offered through the EY Ripples platform, is a 10-hour comprehensive virtual training program tailored for young individuals aged 16-30 who are eager to pursue employment or entrepreneurship in the green economy. This initiative aligns with YES’s mission to enhance employment opportunities and prepare youth for the evolving job market by focusing on sustainable practices and green technologies.
EY Ripples is EY’s global corporate social responsibility program designed to mobilize the business skills, knowledge and experience of EY’s 400,000+ people around the world to support youth, underserved groups, entrepreneurs and sustainability. EY Ripples aims to impact 1 billion lives by 2030 by mobilizing the skills of their staff through various initiatives.
With the International Labor Organization forecasting the creation of 24 million green jobs by 2030, the Green Skills Passport will enable learners to develop skills relevant to this evolving sector and gain a competitive edge in the labor market of today and the future. This program will also provide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a platform to empower underserved communities with timely upskilling and new employable skills.
The Green Skills Passport offers a detailed approach to skills development, providing learners with EY-curated learning paths built and delivered on the Microsoft Community Training platform.
Key Features of the Green Skills Passport Course:
The launch of the Green Skills Passport course is part of YES Canada’s broader commitment to supporting youth employment and fostering sustainable development. By providing young Canadians with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the green economy, YES Canada is not only addressing current and forecasted job market demands but also contributing to Canada’s environmental goals.
Quotes:
“We are incredibly excited to launch the Green Skills Passport course,” said Tim Lang, President and CEO of Youth Employment Services Canada. “This program represents a significant step towards preparing our youth for future job opportunities while promoting environmental sustainability. We believe that by equipping young people with these critical skills, we are investing in a brighter and greener future for all.”- Tim Lang CEO YES
About Youth Employment Services Canada:
Youth Employment Services Canada (YES Canada) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young Canadians through employment and career development services. Established in 1968, YES Canada provides a range of programs and resources aimed at helping youth gain meaningful employment, build professional skills, and achieve their career goals.
www.yes.on.ca
Media Contact:
Laura Kang
Marketing Coordinator
YES CEO CTV Interview Discusses Youth Unemployment Tips for Parents
During this increase in youth unemployment, more parents are seeking advice on how to help youth land their first job. CTV interviewed YES President & CEO, Timothy Lang, to discuss some tips and how to help.
YES CEO Presents HR Canada Award for 2024
The Canadian HR Awards held its annual awards ceremony and YES CEO, Timothy Lang, presented one of the awards. This annual event celebrates the leading HR practices and companies across Canada and awards organizations who excel in critical areas.
HR AWARDS website:
Recording:
CBC Metro Morning: YES CEO Timothy Lang Discusses New Impacts on Youth Seeking Employment
CBC Metro Morning Host Molly Thomas interviewed YES President & CEO, Timothy Lang, to discuss Stats Canada’s latest employment figures, which shows an increase in youth unemployment to 14.2% nationally. Lang explained some of the issues current youth face, including stiffer competition for available entry level jobs. “Canada has seen an influx of over 1.1 million new Canadians. We know that long term new Canadians are good for the economy and help drive new growth, new businesses, more jobs and spending into existing businesses and the economy, but in the short term, many of the new Canadians are between 18-35, which puts added pressure on the available jobs.” Lang went on to show that there are solutions, including YES and its free programming and close to 90% job placement and how other solutions include the strong support from the Ford Government for the sector: “The Ford government has been very supportive of youth employment, and for every $1 of funding to our programs, it returns $3 to the economy, while Minister David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, just announced additional support for job creation through training opportunities in trades, construction, technology and more with the Skills Development Fund”. “YES almost guarantees a job and helps young people find jobs in areas they may not have considered”.
Bloomberg News Interviews YES Clients and CEO to discuss youth employment
