1,000 JobsNow Clients Are Back To Work

OTTAWA – More than 1,000 social assistance clients are working right now thanks to the McGuinty government's innovative JobsNow pilot program, Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today.

Launched in April, JobsNow provides ongoing, personalized employment counselling, job placement and retention support to Ontario Works clients who have been on social assistance for more than 12 months. The program helps people find and keep real, sustainable, long-term employment so that they can stop working for welfare and start working for a living. 

"This is a positive first step for JobsNow – but it doesn't stop here," said Pupatello. "The program will continue to support these individuals, because we know that keeping a job is as important as finding one in the first place."

WCG International, a leading Canadian firm in workforce development and job placement and retention services, in cooperation with municipal Ontario Works offices, runs the JobsNow program in six pilot communities: Peel Region, Durham Region, Hamilton, Windsor, Ottawa and Nipissing.  More than 1,025 employers have participated in JobsNow by hiring clients in one of these areas. Ottawa is a very successful region for this pilot – with 409 participants working and 364 employers participating.

"We have seen incredible support for JobsNow from employers in these communities," said Len Crispino, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. "The program has helped meet the hiring needs of local businesses and connected them with willing, job-ready workers."

JobsNow is part of the provincial government's plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance programs by streamlining administration, improving accountability and moving people off welfare into steady jobs. 

"The progress is encouraging – more than 1,000 individuals have moved into the workforce thanks to JobsNow, and some have already left welfare. That's good for Ontario Works clients, for our economy and for taxpayers," said Pupatello. "Our people are our greatest resource. When they can fulfil their potential, the entire province benefits."