Horizontal Initiatives

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

On this page

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
  • General information
  • Performance information

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Lead department

• Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner departments

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Global Affairs Canada
• Canadian Heritage
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Indigenous Services Canada
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
• National Research Council
• Natural Resources Canada
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Parks Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partners

• Not applicable

Start date of the horizontal initiative

• April 1, 2003

End date of the horizontal initiative

• Ongoing

Description of the horizontal initiative

• Through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, the Government of Canada helps youth aged 15 to 30 to make a successful transition into the labour market. The strategy particularly helps those youth facing barriers to employment to get the information, skills, work experience and abilities they need
• It includes:
  • the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program, which is delivered by all partners
  • the Canada Summer Jobs and Goal Getters programs, which are only delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada
• These programs are delivered nationally and regionally via contribution agreements

Governance structures

• Oversight of this horizontal initiative is provided through a collaborative committee structure. Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for facilitating coordination among the departments and agencies funding Youth Employment and Skills Strategy activities. As policy lead of this horizontal initiative, Employment and Social Development Canada chairs the Youth Employment Strategy Interdepartmental Operations Committee and Evaluation Sub-Committee. The department is also responsible for the coordination and management of these committees

Total federal funding allocated (from 2005 to 2020)

• $5,650.6 million
• Note: Financial information for fiscal years 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 is not available

Total federal planned spending to date (from 2005 to 2020)

• $5,650.6 million
• Note: Financial information for fiscal years 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 is not available

Total federal actual spending to date (from 2005 to 2020)

• $5,584.5 million
• Note: Financial information for fiscal years 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 is not available
• Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative:
• Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding

• $155.4 million, from an off-cycle request in fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal

• $0

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners

• Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

• Fiscal year 2024 to 2025

Shared outcome of federal partner departments

• Canadians access education, training and life-long learning supports to gain the skills and work experience they need

Performance indicators

• Number of youth served
• Number of youth employed or self-employed
• Number of youth returning to school

Targets

• Employment and Social Development targets

  Note: At the beginning of fiscal year 2019 to 2020, there were 3 program streams for the Youth Employment Strategy (Skills Link, Career Focus and Summer Work Experience). Following the modernization of the program, these former program streams have all been merged into the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program. All results for the former program streams will be reported under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program with the exception of Employment and Social Development Canada's Canada Summer Jobs and Goal Getters programs which remain distinct programs

  • Number of youth served: Not available
  • Number of youth employed / self-employed: Not available
  • Number of youth returning to school: Not available

  Note: No targets were set for fiscal year 2019 to 2020. The department used fiscal year 2019 to 2020 to establish baseline targets following the modernization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

• YESS Horizontal targets (for all 11 participating departments and agencies, including ESDC)
  • Number of youth served: Not available
  • Number of youth employed / self-employed: Not available
  • Number of youth returning to school: Not available

  Note: No targets were set for fiscal year 2019 to 2020. The department used fiscal year 2019 to 2020 to establish baseline targets following the modernization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Data source and frequency of monitoring and reporting

• The YESS Interdepartmental Data Collection System (DCS) serves as a repository for youth participant data under the strategy. Once all the participant information forms are inputted in the DCS, partner departments and agencies are able to conduct searches and produce reports based on their respective inputted information. This includes extracting data for reporting purposes at the end of the fiscal year. Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for maintaining the DCS for use by the other government departments and agencies across all streams of the Youth Employment Strategy

Results

• ESDC results in 2019 to 2020:
  • Number of youth served: 99,859 (all streams) – Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program, Canada Summer Jobs, Goal Getters
  • Number of youth employed or self-employed: 7,473 – Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program:
    • includes the number of youth reported as returned to school under the Canada Summer Jobs program. For YESS Horizontal Initiatives including ESDC without Canada Summer Jobs, total youth returned to school was 2,983 excluding totals from ISC
    • not all clients served were able to report finding employment or return to school in the current reporting period, however those clients might be reported in the next fiscal years
    • note that the number of youth employed/self-employed was not an indicator for the Canada Summer Jobs program prior to the modernization of the Strategy as all eligible participants had to be students (eligibility rules were changed to "all youth" in 2019 to 2020). The number of youth employed/self-employed is not an indicator for the Goal Getters funding stream:
      • number of youth returning to school: 58,471 – Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program and Canada Summer Jobs
        • note that the number of youth returning to school is not an indicator for the Goal Getters funding stream
• YESS Horizontal results (for 10 of 11 participating departments and agencies, including ESDC)
  • Number of youth served: 106,939
    • At the time of publication, data for the total clients served was not available for Indigenous Services Canada
  • Number of youth employed / self-employed: 10,388
  • Number of youth returning to school: 61,365

Expected outcome of non-federal and non-governmental partners

• Not applicable

Name of theme

• Not applicable

Performance highlights

• During the course of fiscal year 2019 to 2020, the Government of Canada announced an investment of an additional $49.5M over 5 years through Budget 2019 to launch the modernized Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). Informed by the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Youth Employment, YESS aims to create more opportunities for all youth, including youth facing barriers to help them develop the skills they need to succeed in a changing labour market
• Simultaneously, a number of measures, which were announced in Budget 2017 and 2018, continued to be implemented in fiscal year 2019 to 2020. Specifically:
  1. creating 15,000 green jobs by fiscal year 2019 to 2020, to help young Canadians gain valuable work experience, learn about our natural environment and contribute to economic growth in environmental sectors:
     • result: As a horizontal initiative, through 8 participating departments, YESS partners created over 3,670 green jobs in fiscal year 2019 to 2020, bringing the 3-year total to 17,241 additional green jobs
  2. supporting more than 33,000 vulnerable youth by fiscal year 2019 to 2020, to develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school
     • result: In fiscal year 2019 to 2020 as a horizontal initiative through 4 participating departments the YESS partners created over 16,339 jobs for vulnerable youth. This brings the total number of vulnerable youth supported by the YESS 28,410 over 4 years
  3. creation of 1,600 new job opportunities for young Canadians in the heritage sector by fiscal year 2019 to 2020, which are helping youth build advanced skills in career-related work in the heritage and arts-oriented trades and professions:
     • result: In fiscal year 2019 to 2020- the Department of Canadian Heritage created an additional 574 jobs, bringing the 4-year total to 2,283 jobs in the heritage field
  4. in addition to these Budget commitments, the Government of Canada announced in 2016 that it would support the continued doubling of the number of quality job placements funded under the Canada Summer Jobs program:
     • result: In fiscal year 2019 to 2020, Employment and Social Development Canada created 79,289 placements through the Canada Summer Jobs program. This surpassed its commitment to double the number of jobs through Canada Summer Jobs. It created:
       • 65,883 jobs in 2016 to 2017
       • 69,000 jobs in 2017 to 2018
       • 70,110 jobs in 2018 to 2019
       • 79,289 jobs in 2019 to 2020

Contact information

• Catherine Demers, Director General
  Youth and Skills Innovation Directorate
  Skills and Employment Branch

  Telephone: 819-654-7903
  Email: catherine.demers@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
  Place du Portage Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau QC

Performance information

Employment and Social Development Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $2,375.8 M
• Note: Financial information for fiscal years 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 is not available

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $195,566,206

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $163,705,629

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Clients served – Not applicable (Note: As the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy has been modernized, baseline data will be collected in fiscal year 2019 to 2020 and will be used to refine estimated targets when necessary, and set definitive targets for the program for fiscal year 2020 to 2021 onwards.)
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 18,080
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Clients employed or self-employed – Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 7,743
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Clients returned to school – Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 1,042
  
  
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Number of contribution agreements – Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: Not applicable
  • 2019 to 2020 result: 103
  
  
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Funds leveraged – Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: Not applicable
  • 2019 to 2020 result: $48,135,166

Horizontal initiative activity

• Goal Getters

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $10 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $9,994,790

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $7,744,050

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 2,500

Horizontal initiative activity

• Canada Summer Jobs

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $2,072.7 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $312,121,176

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $310,341,253

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: 70,000
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 79,279
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: 0
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 57,429

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Career Focus Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $19.5 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $1,080,000

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $3,096,569

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 281
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 75
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 45

Global Affairs Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• International Youth Internship Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $111.4 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $6,318,750

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $6,399,996

2019 to 2020 expected results

• The expected results for the IYIP include:
  • increased awareness for female and male Canadian youth of equal possibility of working internationally
  • enhanced equal employability of female and male IYIP interns in Canada and in the field of international development
  • improved capacity of female and male IYIP interns to contribute to international development in a gender-sensitive way

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 319
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 223
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 32

Canadian Heritage

Link to the department's program inventory

• Young Canada Works

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $121.3 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $13,245,103

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $14,331,629

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 2,032
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 730
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 1,781

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
• International Environmental Youth Corps

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $57.7 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $3,153,000

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $14,402,980

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 949
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 142
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 18

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Digital Skills for Youth Internship Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $215 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $10,027,194

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $9,061,356

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 666
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 402
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 50

Link to the department's program inventory

• Technical Work Experience Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $3.7 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $3,689,610

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $4,769,666

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 356
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 75
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 16

National Research Council

Link to the department's program inventory

• Industrial Research Assistance Program
• Youth Employment Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to2020)

• $128.7 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $5,373,000

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $15,516,133

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 668
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 574
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 40

Natural Resources Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Science and Technology Internship Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $17.9 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $600,000

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $8,631,576

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 503
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 372
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 25

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Link to the department's program inventory

• Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $23.9 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $4,854,978

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $5,787,785

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 444
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: Not applicable
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 52
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: Not applicable
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 32

Indigenous Services Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $452 M (combined amount for both programs)

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $41,199,158

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $38,874,397

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: Not available
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: Not available
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: Not available

Link to the department's program inventory

• First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $452 M (combined amount from both programs)

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $13,884,320

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $14,631,834

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: Not available

Parks Canada

Link to the department's program inventory

• Young Canada Works in National Parks and National Historical Sites

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $41 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $6,000,000

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $8,858,796

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 862
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 5
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 855

Total for all organizations

Link to the department's program inventory

• Not applicable

Horizontal initiative activity

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation (from 2005 to 2020)

• $5,650.6 M

2019 to 2020 planned spending

• $627,107,285

2019 to 2020 actual spending

• $626,153,649

2019 to 2020 expected results

• Youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2019 to 2020 performance indicators

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 106,939
• Number of clients employed or self-employed:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 10,388
• Number of clients returned to school:
  • 2019 to 2020 target: Not applicable
  • Date to achieve target: March 31, 2020
  • 2019 to 2020 actual result: 61,365