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 |
| 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.
