Launched in April 2005, the Ontario government's JobsNow pilot program is helping long-term Ontario Works clients find and keep sustainable jobs. One year into the pilot, JobsNow is already producing encouraging successes.

Regional Results
JobsNow is a partnership between the province, WCG International, Chambers of Commerce and municipal social services offices in six communities: Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Nipissing, Peel and Durham.

As of April 7, 2006, results in the pilot communities were as follows:

Job Placements
JobsNow is based on the principle that different people need different supports to find and keep a job. The program works one-on-one with individual social assistance clients and employers to match the right person to the right job. That job could be full-time or part-time. Some placements give clients the opportunity to develop skills and gain much needed on-the-job experience. Other placements let participants demonstrate their existing abilities and give them the chance to advance and grow in their jobs. It all depends on each individual and his or her needs.

JobsNow clients have found employment in a variety of areas, from sales and service to finance and administration to trades and transport, at an average hourly wage of $10.11. These aren't make-work jobs; JobsNow is finding real, sustainable employment that is helping people move toward becoming independent and leaving welfare for work.

Job Retention
JobsNow recognizes that keeping a job is just as important as getting a job in the first place.

Current Ontario Works employment supports include up to six months of job retention services. Though this works for some individuals, others who have been out of the job market for a long period of time often need additional support to help them stay in a new job.

That's why JobsNow emphasizes job retention by providing up to 18 months of post-placement support, such as counseling and problem solving solutions to deal with workplace and personal issues. This ongoing support helps participants keep their jobs so they can develop strong ties to the workforce, leave social assistance for employment and stay financially independent in the future.

About JobsNow
JobsNow focuses on helping people who have been on social assistance for more than 12 months to
re-enter or stay in the job market through a combination of access to job opportunities and longer-term job retention supports. JobsNow provides participants with individualized:

• Job matching services
• Pre-employment supports
• Job orientation information
• Counseling and issues resolution services to address workplace or personal matters that make it difficult to maintain employment
• Up to 18 months of job retention and follow-up services.

The JobsNow pilot continues to May 31, 2007.

Improving Social Assistance
JobsNow is an important part of the McGuinty government's plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance programs. By building on improvements that treat social assistance recipients with dignity and respect, improve employment outcomes and make the social assistance system more efficient and effective, the government is building a more prosperous Ontario for everyone.