Research Column | Brooke Downey
For many Museum Studies students and young museum professionals in Canada, their first introduction into the field is through Young Canada Works (YCW). For this week’s article, we’ll be exploring the history of this program and how nearly 25 years after its introduction, it may not be serving the sector the best way it can.
What is Young Canada Works?
Young Canada Works is a program introduced in 1997 by the federal government of Canada, currently run through the Department of Canadian Heritage. The program targets people between the ages of 16 and 30 who are eligible to work in Canada; non-Canadian students and people with temporary work visas are not eligible. Employers can apply to two different streams: the employment program (shorter assignments aimed at students) or the internship program (longer assignments aimed at recent graduates).
As stated on the Government of Canada's website: YCW has three core objectives:
“To help young Canadians gain practical work experience, develop their skills, enhance their employability, and learn more about their career options;It’s clear that the government is trying to set up a win-win-win situation. Youth gain experience that prepares them for the workforce. Employers get a subsidized hire and access to a broad pool of young, talented, eager workers. Finally, the government enacts part of its Youth Employment Strategy, while simultaneously fostering an appreciation for Canada’s cultural sector.
To increase the pool of skilled and qualified candidates in the cultural and heritage sectors, and offer opportunities to work in both official languages; and
To enhance the knowledge and appreciation of Canada's achievements and cultural heritage.”
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| YCW supports organizations in the heritage sector, including museums, heritage sites, and parks. | Source |
State of YCW
If you’ve ever browsed the YCW job portal, you may have noticed a few issues with the program. First, the compensation hovers around minimum wage. Second, many of the jobs are short-term, contract work, which may be a viable option for those seeking summer jobs or fulfilling course credits. Finally, posted positions that focus on core functions like communications, fundraising, and administration are not competitive with other sectors offering similar roles.
These problems aren’t unsolvable, as YCW is subject to review every five years. In the most recent evaluation, the program was characterized as largely successful and still solving critical employment issues for youth and employers. The evaluation found how youth continue to experience challenges when trying to find stable employment, and there are too few opportunities for training and practical experience, both problems that YCW seeks to alleviate. Simultaneously, 90% of employers said that they wouldn’t have been able to offer these positions without YCW funding.
The evaluation also noted some ongoing issues, including:
Although there have been tweaks to the program over the years, the goals and objectives of YCW are relatively static. Additional evaluation on the long-term impacts of this type of program is needed, particularly in the transition period. How many youth decide the cultural sector isn’t for them after this program? How many people get a YCW position, only to never be able to find another job in the field as they age out of the eligibility period? Does a program aimed at 16-year-olds make the same sense for those in their late 20s?
As we near the 25th anniversary of Young Canada Works, a full generation of cultural workers has passed through the program. Although YCW boasts high satisfaction rates, it just doesn’t do enough to support emerging professionals in their career development. What we have instead is support for a talent pipeline, but for a pipeline that is going nowhere. We have Young Canada Works, we want Young Canada Careers.
If you’ve ever browsed the YCW job portal, you may have noticed a few issues with the program. First, the compensation hovers around minimum wage. Second, many of the jobs are short-term, contract work, which may be a viable option for those seeking summer jobs or fulfilling course credits. Finally, posted positions that focus on core functions like communications, fundraising, and administration are not competitive with other sectors offering similar roles.
These problems aren’t unsolvable, as YCW is subject to review every five years. In the most recent evaluation, the program was characterized as largely successful and still solving critical employment issues for youth and employers. The evaluation found how youth continue to experience challenges when trying to find stable employment, and there are too few opportunities for training and practical experience, both problems that YCW seeks to alleviate. Simultaneously, 90% of employers said that they wouldn’t have been able to offer these positions without YCW funding.
The evaluation also noted some ongoing issues, including:
- The need for multi-year funding (yet to be implemented)
- Greater demand than the government can accommodate (the number of youth employed remained relatively unchanged in the report and continues to hover around 2300)
- Requiring employers to contribute more towards the funding (today the government subsidizes on average between 50%-75% of the position)
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| Former logo of YCW | Source |
The Future of YCW
Although there have been tweaks to the program over the years, the goals and objectives of YCW are relatively static. Additional evaluation on the long-term impacts of this type of program is needed, particularly in the transition period. How many youth decide the cultural sector isn’t for them after this program? How many people get a YCW position, only to never be able to find another job in the field as they age out of the eligibility period? Does a program aimed at 16-year-olds make the same sense for those in their late 20s?
As we near the 25th anniversary of Young Canada Works, a full generation of cultural workers has passed through the program. Although YCW boasts high satisfaction rates, it just doesn’t do enough to support emerging professionals in their career development. What we have instead is support for a talent pipeline, but for a pipeline that is going nowhere. We have Young Canada Works, we want Young Canada Careers.
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