School-to-work transition and workforce development initiatives fail too many Canadians because career management skills do not receive the curricular focus that academic and technical skills receive. Career theorists provide clear and unequivocal evidence to demonstrate the need to imbed career management skills in all education and training programs and services designed to help Canadians succeed in the employment market of the future. Implementing career-relevant programs that integrate the Blueprint career management skills and accountability procedures will:
The OECD applauds Canada's approach in its current 14-country Career Guidance Policy Review [1]. After visiting Canada from July 2nd to July 10th, 2002 the OECD reviewers noted:
In all of these respects, Canada is widely recognized as being a world leader, a position endorsed and reinforced by the two recent international symposia on career development and public policy (funded by Human Resources Development Canada and managed and coordinated by the Canadian Career Development Foundation)."
Momentum for the career management paradigm shift is growing among government
departments, educational leaders, community agencies, business owners, career
and employment counsellors, and human resource specialists. Their support
will help close the gap between workers' skills and employment opportunities,
with the attendant economic savings made
available to stimulate and sustain this nation's prosperity. With more concerted
effort in developing, implementing and evaluating the proposed career management
skills agenda, together we can help citizens achieve self-reliance and empowerment
in their careers, focus and direction in their current employment, and satisfaction
and control in their lives.
Links
[1] http://www.oecd.org/els/education/careerguidance