Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training

Job Options BC

Overview

Out of work and need a hand getting back into the job market? Job Options BC is a new employment and skills training program that can help unemployed British Columbians gain the skills, confidence and experience they need to find employment.

If you are unemployed but not an Employment Insurance (EI) client, and you want to become employed, this program is designed to help you.

NEW! for information on Urban Older Workers program, please click here

What does the program offer?

  • Up to 10 weeks of group and individual programming, short-term training and work experience that prepares participants for new employment, or when appropriate, further training.
  • Four to six weeks of group activities, including assessment, life skills, job-finding clubs and employability skills (job search, basic skills upgrading, computer training, and short term skill training). Groups usually include 10 to 12 participants.
  • Further skills training and/or work experience during the remainder of the program includes employer, community-based or volunteer work experience. This provides the opportunity for participants to learn skills to assist their search for paid employment.
  • Up to six months of follow-up support provided for those who need additional help to find and maintain employment or to regain employment if they lose a job.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for this program, participants must be:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • unemployed
  • non-EI clients (have not established a regular EI claim in the last three years and have not established a maternity or parental claim in the past five years)
  • legally entitled to work in Canada
  • living in BC
  • not a student
  • not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) funded program

Where and when is the program offered?

Job Options BC programs are located in the following communities, and may also be accessible to residents in nearby communities. As programs start at various times between Nov 2010 and March 31, 2013, please contact the service provider directly about services.

Location Contact Information
Burnaby Multi-Lingual Orientation Service (MOSAIC)
Tel: 604-438-8214

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Tel: 604-438-2100
Burns Lake Prince George Society for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities – aka: Employment Action
Tel: 250-564-8044 or 1-866-409-8044
Campbell River

Opportunities Career Services Society
Tel: 250-286-3436

Castlegar Ashland Training Concepts Ltd.
Tel: 250-365-0966 / Toll free: 1-888-552-5263
Chetwynd Obair Economic Society
Tel: 250-782-2628
Chilliwack Triangle Community Resources
Tel: 604-792-8000
Coquitlam S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Tel: 604-472-0688
Courtenay WCG International HR Solutions
Tel: 250-338-9183 / Toll free: 1-888-562-9283
Cranbrook Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays
Tel: 250-919-3484 or 250-426-8019 Ext 30
Creston Kootenay Employment Services Society
Tel: 250-428-5655 / Toll free: 1-855-428-5655
Dawson Creek Obair Economic Society
Tel: 250-782-2628
Duncan Ethos Management Group Ltd.
Tel: 1-877-714-0471
Fort St. John Obair Economic Society
Tel: 250-782-2628
Hope Mission Community Skills Centre Society
Tel: 604-860-0224
Kaslo Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services
Email: outreach@aslcs.com
Tel: 250-265-3318
Kamloops Sprott-Shaw Degree College
Tel: 250-314-1122
Kelowna YMCA - YWCA of the Central Okanagan
Tel: 250-861-JOBS (5627)
Keremeos Open Door Social Services Society
TOLL Free : 1-866-377-3670
Langford WorkLink Employment Society
Tel: 250-478-9525
Langley / Fort Langley Triangle Community Resources
Tel: 604-539-9850
Mackenzie College of New Caledonia, Mackenzie Campus
Tel:250-997-7200
McBride/Valemount Prince George Society for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities – aka: Employment Action
Tel: 250-564-8044 or 1-866-409-8044
Nakusp Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services
Email: outreach@aslcs.com
Tel: 250-265-3318
Nanaimo Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society
Tel: 250-753-6911 Ext 104
Nelson Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services
Email: outreach@aslcs.com
Tel: 250-265-3318
New Westminster AWARE - Assisting With Awareness Regarding Employment Society
Tel: 604-525-0633 or 604-502-8355
North Delta Boys and Girls Club of South Coast BC
Tel: 604-591-9262 Ext 129 or 229
or 604-984-7630 Ext 216
North Vancouver Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA Vancouver)
Tel: 604-988-3766
Oliver Open Door Social Services Society
TOLL Free : 1-866-377-3670
Osoyoos Open Door Social Services Society
TOLL Free : 1-866-377-3670
Parksville Ethos Management Group Ltd.
Tel: 1-877-714-0471
Penticton WCG International HR Solutions
Tel: 250-486-5383 / Toll free: 1-888-562-9283
Port Alberni INEO Employment Counselling
Tel: 250-723-4675
Port Coquitlam Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISS)
Tel: 604-468-6262
Powell River Career Link (Powell River Employment Program Society)
Tel: 604-485-7958
Prince George Prince George Society for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities – aka: Employment Action
Tel: 250-564-8044 or 1-866-409-8044
Prince Rupert, Masset-Haida Gwaii Hecate Strait Employment Development Society Tel: 250-626-3236 or Toll Free: 1-800-808-3988
Princeton and surrounding areas Princeton and District Skills Centre Tel: 250-295-4051
Queen Charlotte City on Haida Gwaii Hecate Strait Employment Development Society Tel: 250-559-0049 or Toll Free: 1-866-559-7909
Richmond / Ladner Richmond Youth Service Agency
Tel: 604-271-7600 Ext 684
Salmon Arm WCG International HR Solutions
Tel: 250-307-8298 / Toll free: 1-888-562-9283
Sechelt Ethos Management Group Ltd.
Tel: 604-885-7443
Sidney Beacon Community Services
Tel: 250-656-0134
Smithers Kopar Administration Ltd.
Tel: 250-847-3511 / Toll Free: 1-877-881-3511
Sooke WorkLink Employment Society
Tel: 250-642-3685
Surrey AWARE - Assisting With Awareness Regarding Employment Society
Tel: 604-502-8355

Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISS)
Tel: 604-598-8545

Pacific Community Resources Society
Tel: 604-951-4821

Progressive Inter-Cultural Community Services Society
Tel: 604-596-7722 Ext 110
Squamish and surrounding areas Young Woman’s Christian Association (YWCA)
Tel: 604-988-3766
Terrace Terrace and District Community Services Society
Tel: 250-635-7995 / Toll Free: 1-877-635-7995
Trail Ashland Training Concepts Ltd.
Tel: 250-364-0966 / Toll Free: 1-888-552-5263
Vancouver Coast Foundation Society (1974)
Tel: 604-877-0033

Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISS)
Tel: 604-684-2561 Ext 1135

Multi-Lingual Orientation Service (MOSAIC)
Tel: 604-254-0244
Vernon North Okanagan Employment Enhancement Society (NOEES)
Tel: 250-545-0585
Victoria Sprott-Shaw Degree College
Tel: 250-384-8121
Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Quesnel Horton Ventures Inc.
Williams Lake - Tel: 250-398-5133
100 Mile House - Tel: 250-395-5121
Quesnel - Tel: 250-992-3520

Job Options BC is based on two highly successful programs, the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program and the Return to pilot Work Employment Program.

The program began in November 2010 and Job Options BC programs are currently in place until March 31, 2013. The Province has the option to renew the programs, for two consecutive one year terms through to March 31, 2014, depending on the success of the program.

The Province has allocated approximately $15M annually to funding this initiative through the Canada/BC Labour Market Agreement. To see other skills development and training programs currently offered, please visit Work BC.


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