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$18 million to help disabled

A total of $18 million in contracts has been awarded to three organizations to help disabled workers find jobs through the new Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities, provincial Employment Minister Claude Richmond announced Monday. Source.

School's community-linked trades training gives youth a leg up to better-paying jobs.

Fort St. John, a city in an area with a huge need for qualified tradespeople, is dead serious about solving the problem. And the solution starts right at its local high school. Source.

Mandatory retirement ban

For Robert Anderson, it's akin to being saved by the bell.  A few months ago, things looked gloomy for the 64-year-old Simon Fraser University communications professor, who was scheduled to retire when he hits 65 in August despite wanting to keep working for a few more years.  More.

Five careers later, he's top of his SFU business class

Bernie Maroney, who notched up a near-perfect grade-point average at Simon Fraser University's Segal School of Business, had this to say about his stellar achievement: "I should have done better."  Source.

Public service faces job-filling challenge

CALGARY -- Public sector advocacy groups say more needs to be done to attract people and keep them in the public service, especially since the sector's employees are generally older than the Canadian average. Source.

Attracting Americans to work in Canada

Canadians love to gripe about their taxes. But it seems all that complaining has made its way beyond our borders, exacerbating the already difficult task firms face attracting foreign talent from places in the United States. And nowhere is this crunch expected to hit harder than in financial services. Article here. 

Persons with disabilities

$2 Million fund to assist B.C. Employers and Communities to measure up.  Source.

Province lures grads with student aid

The provincial government plans to dole out nearly $2 million annually in new scholarships, research fellowships and student loan repayments to entice talent to the B.C. public service.  The plan will have a major impact in the Greater Victoria area where about 12,000 of B.C.'s approximately 30,000 public servants live and work. It will cost $1.75 million in the first year. Campbell said the new incentives are part of a program to give the public service a competitive edge in recruiting and retaining employees. That's important since 45 per cent of managers and 35 per cent of current employees are eligible to retire from the public service by 2015. Source.

Workers allowed to semi-retire and still contribute to pension

The Harper government laid out plans yesterday to help more seniors achieve semi-retirement, moves that should also help Canadian businesses hang on to much-needed experienced workers.  The two key steps are part of the Conservatives' broader effort to quell the anger among many seniors hurt by the government's decision in October to tax income trusts, a popular investment vehicle.  In one of the new measures, the government said it will begin allowing employers to pay a partial pension to an employee while that same worker is also contributing to the pension plan. This will make it easier for retired individuals to return to the work force part time.  It should help Canada's efforts to combat its skills shortage, which is expected to become an increasing problem as the work force ages. The change, expected to carry a small price tag for the government, is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.  Source.

Website offers retirees a new lease on working life

As the B.C. government prepares to ban mandatory retirement in the province this spring, a growing number of companies are taking a fresh look at hiring older workers as a way to shore up their workforce.  As well, new businesses are starting up that are geared to helping those workers find new jobs or careers as they leave their old ones.  One of those businesses is a Langley-based website called 55pluspros.ca that's been launched to help match older workers with employers seeking experienced and qualified professionals.  Source.