GNWT recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People

YELLOWKNIFE (April 28, 2014) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is proud to confirm it has been selected as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for 2014.  The award, an annual recognition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, recognizes Canadian employers that are leaders in attracting and retaining younger employees by offering great employment environments for younger workers. The competition reviews a wide variety of initiatives, from mentorship to training and advancement opportunities, important to younger Canadians.

“Supporting Northern youth in their transition from school to the workplace is a key factor in maximizing northern employment and the economic development of our territory,” said Minister of Human Resources Tom Beaulieu. “Our investment in attracting and retaining young Northerners through initiatives such as summer student employment and internships ensures the transfer of knowledge from one generation to another which is important for developing our future leaders.”

In addition to summer student employment and internships, the GNWT has begun implementing a Student and Youth Strategy to enhance employment programming. Recent expansion of the Graduate Internship Program provides for internships greater than one year in length to assist in meeting current and future occupational shortages and help young Northerners transition into permanent employment with the GNWT.  The Department  of Human Resources is working with Education, Culture and Employment to implement a youth career planning program to raise awareness of current and future public service occupational needs with middle and high school students to both promote the GNWT as a Northern employer and assist NWT youth in determining their future career paths. Work is also underway on developing a work co-op program to allow students to gain academic credits while performing work terms in their field of study with the GNWT.

Under the Workforce Planning Strategy, the GNWT continues to implement an array of recruitment and retention initiatives to strengthen and diversify the public service and create employment opportunities for all ages throughout the NWT.   Providing youth with valuable work experience and employment opportunities helps sustain healthy, educated residents as outlined in the 17th Assembly’s vision of Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners.

For more information on the Summer Student Employment Program, the Northern Graduate Employment Program or to apply online, please visit www.gnwtjobs.ca

For more information:

Jackie Bell
Manager, Policy and Communications
Department of Human Resources
Tel: (867) 873-7696
Email:  Jackie_bell@gov.nt.ca

NT3