WorkBC New Westminster offers no-cost support to eligible local jobseekers to help them get back to work and assists with retraining. They also work with employers to assist with recruitment and support the cost of onboarding training with the Wage Subsidy Program.
“There’s a high anxiety around employment right now, especially those industries that have been hardest hit by COVID,” general manager Tracey Fraser says.
“We’re here to be a soft landing for people, to be that support so they aren’t alone in their job search.”
The centre’s goal is to connect job seekers with the labour market to achieve sustainable employment and to support employers with recruitment.
“We’re a centralized place that’s a one-stop shop where people can come. There are job boards, a resource room, personal one-on-one case management services, and customized services for individuals with disabilities,” Fraser says.
“We fill a niche in New West in that we assist both job searchers and employers.”
WorkBC clients are able to access job search services, career-related training opportunities and gain access to tools and essential work clothing required for them to begin their employment.
They are also available to help employers source, hire, and retain talent. WorkBC offers local business free employment services, programs, information, and support. It also administers the WorkBC Wage Subsidy Program to provide financial support for onboarding training required to set new staff up for success.
“We’re there to help bridge that financial gap for employers,” Fraser says.
WorkBC is there for anyone who requires assistance to get back to work or who needs to be connected to other community resources in New Westminster to address housing needs, food insecurity, or mental health issues.
“In a pandemic, it can be really lonely to navigate these things alone,” Fraser says.
“We offer that support so that they aren’t on their own.”
To connect with WorkBC New Westminster today, visit www.workbccentre-newwestminster.ca.
