Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) has announced an “Empowering Futures” program, a Student Work Integrated Learning Program, designed to create up to 1000 new jobs for post-secondary students in the electricity sector over the next 4-years. The objective of the project is to better align the skill sets and job readiness of graduates with the needs of electricity industry employers, in all provinces and territories across Canada.
The program will encourage and support industry employers, especially small to medium sized companies, to hire co-op students and provide them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a real work environment. The program will enhance the job-readiness of post-secondary STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and business students across Canada by offering up to $7,000 in co-op wage subsidies to electricity and renewable employers.
EHRC is to bring together a consortium of stakeholders to ensure that there is increased alignment between the current and future needs of employers and the curricula being delivered by post-secondary institutions. EHRC is establishing a national working committee to connect stakeholders, including employers, post-secondary institutions, industry associations and labour from across the country who will work in partnership, to optimize effectiveness of the program.
The program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Student Work-Integrated Learning Program.