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:
- help more youth and adults become satisfied, fulfilled, self-reliant, contributing and prosperous citizens;
- bring more motivated and engaged learners to teachers and trainers;
- provide more qualified and motivated workers to Canadian businesses that are increasingly challenged to find the talent they need to compete successfully;
- save billions of dollars annually in support of people who have difficulty locating and maintaining suitable work roles; and
- increase Canada's international competitiveness and improve living standards in communities across the nation.
The OECD applauds Canada's approach in its current 14-country Career Guidance Policy Review. After visiting Canada from July 2nd to July 10th, 2002 the OECD reviewers noted:
- "The team identified the strengths of the career guidance system
in Canada as including:
· the extent and quality of labour market information; - the development of creative resources (like The Real Game);
- the development of strategic instruments (notably the Blueprint for Life/Work Designs and the Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners); and
- the creative support for public-private sector partnerships and for third-sector initiatives, both a national level and at local level.
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.
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