Shaping the Sector

Advancing Workforce Development Through Community-Based Solutions

Who We Are

The Canadian Coalition of Community-Based Employability Training (CCCBET) is a national, non-profit organization representing community-based training providers across Canada. Our members deliver workforce development programs funded through federal initiatives such as Workforce Development Agreements, Labour Market Development Agreements, and the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

We serve as a critical link between government and local communities, ensuring workforce policies and programs effectively support those most in need of employment and training services.

Why Community-Based Employment Services Matter

Community-based employment and training providers play a vital role in:

• Supporting Marginalized Job Seekers: Helping youth, immigrants, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups gain sustainable employment.
• Strengthening Local Economies: Collaborating with employers, economic development boards, and social service providers to address regional workforce challenges.
• Addressing Labour Market Gaps: Providing tailored workforce solutions that respond to employer needs and regional economic trends.

Our Policy Recommendations

CCCBET urges the Government of Canada to take the following actions to strengthen workforce development and economic inclusion:

1. Reinstate $625 million in federal labour market transfer funds: Restore federal funding to the provinces for employability training, ensuring accessible, high-quality services.
2. Increase support for underfunded community-based employment networks: Provide sustainable funding for organizations that help job seekers overcome barriers and integrate into the workforce.
3. Develop a Federal Employment Strategy Framework: Establish a long-term, non-partisan strategy to ensure workforce policies meet current and future labour market demands beyond political cycles.
4. Simplify eligibility criteria for public employment services: Ensure all individuals seeking employment support can access services, regardless of income status or employment history.

Our Impact: Recent Initiatives

• Labour Market Analysis & Economic Profiling – Conducting regional workforce assessments in six provinces to align training with employer needs.
• Industry Workforce Collaboratives – Engaging local employers to co-design workforce solutions that strengthen talent pipelines.
• Targeted Skills Training – Supporting 500+ underrepresented job seekers with training and employment pathways in high-demand sectors.

Let's Work Together

CCCBET and our member organizations bring local expertise to national workforce challenges. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the government to strengthen Canada's workforce and economic future. Contact us at info@ccocde-cccbet.com.

September 16, 2025

This September, CCCBET's voice was spotlighted on the international stage when our colleagues joined the National Employment Services Association (NESA) Conference in Australia—virtually, but powerfully.

In the session "Voices Across Canada: Innovating Public Employment Services for an Inclusive Future", we presented together:

• The realities of delivering employment services in Canada's diverse regions
• The particular challenges faced by clients with multiple barriers
• Why policies must adapt to regional contexts, not a one-size-fits-all model

Although separated by geography, Australia and Canada share many of the same structural challenges: vast rural territories, populations with diverse needs, and systems that often overlook smaller or more remote communities. Our participation was not just symbolic. It affirmed that community-based providers worldwide are thought leaders in shaping more inclusive and responsive employment services.

For CCCBET and its members, these global conversations matter because they strengthen our credibility at home. When decision-makers see that our challenges are not unique—and that our solutions are respected internationally—it bolsters the argument for fundamental reform in procurement, funding design, and program delivery.

At the end of the day, bringing global insights back to local communities is how we continue to evolve, stay connected, and reinforce the power of our collective voice.

September 2025

ASPECT BC, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Supported Employment (CASE), has released a new position paper on strengthening supported employment in rural and remote communities.

Identified through our CCCBET contacts, interview participants from across Canada shared experiences that highlight how equitable employment services for people with disabilities are not just an economic priority—they are a social justice issue.

Collaboration across provinces and service systems is crucial to establishing inclusive pathways to work that benefit both individuals and communities.

Read the full position paper →

August 2025

Youth Employment in Canada: July 2025 Labour Force Survey Results

Statistics Canada's latest Labour Force Survey (July 2025) shows that youth employment continues to be a pressing issue across the country. While the summer months often bring a rise in seasonal hiring, this year's numbers reflect ongoing challenges for young people entering and staying in the labour market.

Youth aged 15–24 continue to experience higher unemployment rates compared to the general population, with many facing barriers such as limited work experience, precarious employment conditions, and fewer opportunities for stable, full-time work. These realities impact not only the young workers themselves but also the vitality of local economies that rely on youth talent and energy.

As a pan-Canadian coalition of community-based employment and training organizations, CCCBET and its members are deeply committed to supporting youth in finding meaningful employment. From career counselling and job-readiness training to direct partnerships with employers, our members see firsthand the importance of early interventions and sustained support.

The July data underscores the urgent need for continued investment in programs that:

• Connect young people to employers in their communities.

• Address systemic barriers for equity-deserving youth.

• Provide pathways from education to employment that reflect local and regional realities.

CCCBET members and the employment services providers they represent are on the frontlines of this work. We encourage you to read/watch/listen to some of the recent media coverage highlighting their perspectives and the impact of youth employment services:

• Statistics Canada's latest figures show trouble when it comes to youth jobs – CBC News, August 14, 2025

• Youth Unemployment – BC Today with Michelle Eliot, CBC Radio, August 14, 2025

Together, we can ensure that Canada's youth are not left behind and that they have the tools, opportunities, and supports they need to build strong futures.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Canadian Coalition of Community‑Based Employability Training (CCCBET), Canada's voice for the employment and training sector, is pleased to announce the appointment of new executive leadership, reflecting the organization's pan‑Canadian mission to connect community‑based employment services with governments, employers, and labour. CCCBET provides national, non‑profit leadership and advocacy for approximately 1,000 community employment and training organizations across Canada.

New Executive Team (2025–2026)

• President: Akosua Alagaratnam, First Work (Ontario's Workforce Development Network), Ontario
• Vice‑President: Kevin McNichol, Private Career Development Contractors Association of Alberta, Alberta
• Secretary: Carrie Axten, Prospect Human Services Society, Alberta
• Treasurer (continuing): Valérie Roy, Alliance of Quebec Employment Counseling Centers, Quebec

Rounding out the Board are: Past President Janet Morris‑Reade (Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training, British Columbia); Monika Feist (Success Skills Center, Manitoba); and Mohja Alia (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia), representing the coalition's regional diversity and pan‑Canadian collaboration.

About CCCBET

The Canadian Coalition of Community-Based Employability Training (CCCBET) is a national, non-profit organization representing community-based training providers across Canada. Our members deliver workforce development programs funded through federal initiatives such as Workforce Development Agreements, Labour Market Development Agreements, and the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

CCCBET serves as a critical link between government and local communities, ensuring workforce policies and programs effectively support those most in need of employment and training services.

Contact

Canadian Coalition of Community‑Based Employability Training
300 – 722 Cormorant Street, Victoria BC V8W 1P8
Email: info@ccocde-cccbet.com
Website: www.ccocde-cccbet.com

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March 2025 – Canada

On February 14, 2025, the Government of Canada launched its annual pre-budget consultations, inviting Canadians to weigh in on urgent national priorities. Key themes included affordability, economic resilience, and navigating the evolving Canada–U.S. landscape. Consultations closed on March 10, 2025.

As part of this process, CCCBET submitted a formal brief highlighting critical areas for investment in employment and career development. Our submission emphasized the importance of community-based services and long-term strategies for a stronger, more inclusive workforce.

Key Recommendations:

1. Reinstate Labour Market Transfer Funds
   Restore the $625 million in federal funding to provinces for labour market agreements—supporting career development and employability training, and recognizing the crucial role of community-based services in driving Canada's economic growth.
2. Sustain Community-Based Employability Networks
   Increase investment in underfunded employability networks that play a vital role in helping individuals enter and stay in the workforce—essential contributors to economic progress.
3. Develop a Federal Employment Strategy Framework
   Create a dedicated framework to guide employment and training strategies that are responsive to current and future labour market needs—beyond shifting political priorities.
4. Simplify Access to Public Employment Services
   Broaden eligibility criteria so that anyone in need—regardless of income or employment status—can access support for integration and sustained employment.

By participating in the 2025 pre-budget consultations, CCCBET aimed to ensure that the voices of employment-focused organizations and the communities they serve were heard and considered.

Read CCCBET Recommendations

January 2024

Employment Services are at a Cross-point: Do Employment Program Services Need to Change? 

 Panelists: Valérie Roy (Quebec), Janet Morris-Reade (British Columbia), Akosua Alagaratnam (Ontario), Carrie Axten (Alberta), and Monika G. Feist (Manitoba) 

At Cannexus 2024, CCCBET facilitated a dynamic and timely session addressing the ongoing transformation of employment services in Canada. With rapid changes in the labour market, evolving employer expectations, increased technological integration, and a growing population of clients facing complex barriers, the session underscored the urgent need for innovative, collaborative, and community-specific responses.

Key Themes Explored:

• Pan-Canadian Landscape of Employment Services:
  Attendees gained a broad overview of employment trends and service delivery challenges across various regions, highlighting both shared issues and distinct local realities.

• Innovation Rooted in Regional Contexts:
  The discussion emphasized that while national coordination is crucial, solutions must be flexible enough to reflect regional labour market demands and demographic nuances. Success stories and pilot programs from different provinces were spotlighted to inspire cross-regional learning.

• The Role of Collaboration:
  A central takeaway was the call for deeper partnerships between government, employment sectors, and community-based organizations. Collaboration is essential to build agile systems that respond to today's realities—particularly in supporting multi-barriered clients.

• Participant Engagement for Advocacy:
  Delegates were invited to share their insights and local perspectives to help shape CCCBET's forthcoming advocacy paper. The goal is to ensure that front-line voices and on-the-ground realities inform future policy and funding discussions.

Cannexus is presented by CERIC and supported by The Counselling Foundation of Canada with a broad network of supporting organizations. For more information and to register, visit www.cannexus.ca.

June 2019 – Canada

Federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers reinforced their commitment to collaborate on key opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian workforce. They agreed to work together to conduct broad-based consultations on the annual $3 billion investment in labour market transfer agreements, ensuring they are responsive to the needs of Canadians. Ministers announced on June 28, following a videoconference meeting of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM), which also approved the next steps for the creation of the Labour Market Information Council.

Consultations will take place over the summer months to gather perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders and explore ways to improve the transfer agreements, informing future investments. This work will help support provincial and territorial employment and training programs that address labour market needs in a fast-changing economy. These consultations will be held across Canada, both online and through written submissions, involving a wide range of experts, stakeholders, and individual Canadians. Information regarding these consultations will be posted on the FLMM website.

Read the Press Release

The Immigration Beyond MTV research report is the result of a pan-Canadian study conducted by the Canadian Coalition of Community-Based Employability Training (CCCBET). The project focused on the integration of immigrants into the labour market outside of major urban centres. Since the research began in January 2010, 152 immigrants as well as employment counsellors and executive directors from 12 organizations located in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic Region have participated in the project. The research aims to contribute to a better understanding of immigrants' pathway toward social and occupational integration as well as to share best practices pertaining to the employment integration of newcomers outside metropolitan areas.

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In September 2005, the first Dialogue event took place in Ottawa, Ontario. Approximately 90 participants attended the Dialogue, with representatives from Sector Councils, Immigrant Serving Agencies from nine provinces, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the provincial governments of British Columbia and Quebec. This event aimed to promote networking, sharing of information, and partnerships among participants preoccupied by specific issues and barriers preventing the integration of non-regulated occupation immigrants and refugees into the Canadian workforce. In 2007, after a successful first Dialogue event, the CCCBET had the opportunity through HRSDC funding to offer four regional dialogues events to be held in Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

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To obtain a copy of the regional reports, please contact the CCCBET.

In 2004, the CCCBET completed the "Leading Lights" study to promote the growth and enhancement of leadership within Canada's community-based training sector. The project's main focus was collecting research and best leadership practices. The dissemination of information and tools for sharing and accessing best practices enabled the CCCBET to produce marketing tools to raise public awareness of the sector, attract new employees and promote professional development within the sector.

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To obtain a copy of the case studies and marketing brochures, please contact the CCCBET.

In order to meet the challenges of change and strengthen the community-based training system, the CCCBET initiated a human resource study to define the nature of the work done by its members. The goal of this study was to develop a job classification system and a description of roles, responsibilities and activities within the community-based training sector. The study was conducted in 2000, it helped to develop a classification system that provides a framework for human resource requirements within the sector and set the backdrop for more detailed analysis of the sector in the future.

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For over 125 years community-based training agencies in Canada have been providing client-sensitive, quality employment and training services. In order to face unprecedented challenges in the community-based training sector, the CCCBET directed in 1996 a pan-Canadian Human Resource Study of Community-Based Training. The study resulted into a Vision and Strategies document in 1998 that would help the sector to succeed into the second century of community-based training in Canada and around the world.

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