Released on April 30, 1997
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Robert Mitchelltoday announced the JobStart/Future Skills provincial training program
is being expanded. It will include a work-based training component for
workers who are currently employed and a sector partnerships component
to help industries address their specific training needs.
Mitchell told a Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board conference
in Saskatoon that current successful features of the popular program
will also continue. The program has an $11.9 million budget in 1997-
98, a $3.4 million increase over last year. It will help fund about
2,700 training opportunities annually.
"As our economy changes and grows, new jobs are being created, jobs
waiting for people with the skills to fill them," Mitchell said.
"Every job unfilled is an opportunity lost in both social and economic
terms. JobStart/Future Skills is one of the key elements of the
recently-released Saskatchewan Training Strategy that links training to
employment and ensures Saskatchewan people benefit from improved
employment prospects."
The expanded program has four components. The two new components,
Workbased Training for the Employed and the Sector Partnerships Program
will receive $1.1 million and $500,000 respectively, this fiscal year.
There will be $3 million under Workbased Training for the Unemployed
for training for new full time positions. Institutional Quick Response
Training will receive $6.3 million to help training institutions
quickly address emerging skill shortages. One million dollars will be
used to deliver the program in partnership with SIAST, Regional
Colleges and Dumont Technical Institute.
Under the new Workbased Training for the Employed, JobStart/Future
Skills will fund employers who face critical skill shortages or who
need to retrain existing staff in order to remain competitive. The
program will fund retraining for new or changing technology in the
workplace, new product lines or work processes, as well as quality
assurance training and industry sector skill training.
The new Sector Partnerships Program will support industry sectors to
work with community groups and training institutions to develop
strategies to address industry skill shortages through such activities
as co-ordinated human resource planning, development of sector
occupational standards and workplace adjustment planning.
Mitchell said JobStart/Future Skills will continue to provide
accredited, portable skills and flexible ways to deliver training.
There will still be a focus on designated groups such as youth, social
assistance clients, women in non-traditional jobs, First Nations and
Metis peoples, people with disabilities and visible minorities.
"JobStart/Future Skills is a made-in-Saskatchewan success," Mitchell
said. "Since its inception it has provided training to over 4,300
people. Through the enhancements we are making, and through the
business and community partnerships we have made, we are ensuring
training continues to be relevant, and has even stronger links to
employment.
Employers interested in the program may call the Career Information
Hotline 1-800-597-8278; send an e-mail to jobstart@sasked.gov.sk.ca,
look it up at http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca on the department's World
Wide Web site or contact their nearest Regional College or SIAST
Institute.
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For more information contact:
Rick Pawliw
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5984