• Recruitment

  December 16, 2016

Resources for Recruiting from Diverse Labour Pools

Do you have a challenging time finding reliable and dedicated employees? Think outside the box by hiring from diverse labour pools. Diverse labour pools provide you access to a wealth of skilled and talented people: The immigrant workforce; Canadian-born visible minorities; persons with disabilities; and Indigenous Peoples.

3 min read

For more information and resources, visit the following websites:

Students & Youth

Propel – Tourism and Hospitality Student Work Placement Program

Funded by the Government of Canada through the Student Work Placement Program, Propel offers registered Canadian businesses, startups, and not-for-profits related to the tourism and hospitality sector a wage subsidy of up to 50% of a qualifying student’s wages, to a maximum of $5,000 for any student hired through the program, and up to 70% to a maximum of $7,000 for placements of people belonging to under-represented groups.

Talent Match

This free program is a benefit to members of the B.C. Alliance for Arts + Culture, the B.C. Museums Association, and go2HR.

Talk to one of their advisors to learn which student talent programs can best fit your organizational needs. They connect employers to the appropriate post-secondary school(s) and help identify funding sources and wage subsidies.

Canada Summer Jobs

Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services including employer wage subsidies to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

Persons with Disabilities

BC Centre For Ability (B.C.C.F.A.)

The BC Centre for Ability provides community-based services to enhance the quality of life for children, youth with special needs and adults with disabilities, and their families in ways that foster inclusion in all aspects of life.

By raising awareness, identifying opportunities, recruiting candidates, and enabling training and financial support, they work with employers and individuals to help create diverse and inclusive workplaces. They have a range of programs for persons with disabilities, including financial support for training, wage subsidy, coaching, mentoring and connecting youth with diverse abilities to employers.

Neil Squire Society

The only national not-for-profit organization in Canada that has for over thirty years empowered Canadians with disabilities through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and various employment programs, including:

  • Working Together Program
    • Connects job-ready individuals with disabilities to employers who are looking to hire
    • Wage subsidies are available for employers who hire program participants
  • WorkBC Assistive Technology Services
    • Provides funding for supports such as assistive devices, equipment and technology, ergonomic and restorative supports, communication and hearing devices related to work, workplace access and modification, and vehicle modifications

Accessibility Employment BC

Accessible Employment BC is a free job listing site for people with disabilities looking for work opportunities and employers who wish to diversify their workforce.

Spinal Cord Injury BC

Information database of resources for employers

Immigrants

Immigrant Services Society of B.C. (ISSofBC)

Hiring services, resources and workplace training to help employers tap into the hidden talent pool of new immigrants.

MOSAIC

Free services to help employers access local and internationally trained candidates from various MOSAIC Employment Programs and WorkBC Employment Services across the Lower Mainland and access to funded incentives such as Wage Subsidies, Onboarding/Job Start supports and more.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

A non-profit charity offering range of services, including job-ready candidates, a free job board, employment matching, mentorship, job fairs and training.

Immigrant Employment Council of B.C.

Tools, resources and information to assist employers in attracting, hiring and retaining immigrants.

South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (S.O.I.C.S.)

A non-profit society, S.O.I.C.S., offers employment services for newcomers and employers, including an informal job matching service.

Indigenous

Friendship Centres

Friendship Centres provide culturally relevant programs and services for Indigenous people living in urban centres across Canada in multiple areas including, health, shelter, youth, justice, development and employment. They have also become a place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together, share traditions, and learn from one another.  Find a Friendship Centre

O.T.D.C. (Okanagan Training and Dev. Corp) – North Okanagan Friendship Center Society

North Okanagan Employment Services is a program designed to increase the employability and employment rate of First Nations people in the North Okanagan area. Resources for employers include a job board.

Okanagan Training & Development Council – Workplace Training & Wage Subsidy

The Okanagan Training & Development Council offers to fund workplace training to help employers upgrade the skills of current full-time, current part-time or seasonal employees who are in danger of layoff. Primarily, this involves the purchase of (off-the-job) training.

The wage subsidy is also available for replacement costs for employees hired during regular employees’ absence to attend training (more than one week).

Employment Service Providers

WorkBC

Support job seekers in finding career opportunities and help employers fill jobs, find the right talent, and grow their businesses.

  • WorkBC Wage Subsidy Program
    • Provides funding to eligible employers to hire, provide work experience and on-the-job training.  Employer application Guide

Get in the Know

Employment programs and resources for employers in Surrey, BC

Triangle Community Resources

Based in Chilliwack, BC, Triangle Community Resources provides resources, training and supports to help clients who are unemployed, under-employed or have multiple barriers to employment transition into employment throughout the Lower Mainland.