TORONTO, Canada – Starbucks Canada, in partnership with various levels of government and local social agencies, it is taking action to tackle the country’s critical youth unemployment rates, says the company in a press release issued last week.
As one of the country’s leading employers for young people, Starbucks is taking a leadership position by committing 10 percent of its store hires to Opportunity Youth – young people ages 16-24 who are not working and are not going to school.
These are motivated young people, who have a strong desire to work, but are facing various systemic barriers to employment and require even more support in finding pathways to opportunity.
They represent a vital and untapped resource of talent who have the potential to contribute to the success of business.
The program, launched in Toronto in April, is on track to exceed the 10 percent goal (150 jobs) within the first year, which validates that there is a demand for this kind of programming. In the first six months 109 young people have found meaningful employment at Starbucks.
Following this success, the program is now being expanded nationally starting with Montreal and Vancouver, with more cities to come.
At the same time, Starbucks is continuing its long-term commitment to providing non-work-ready youth with the tools necessary to achieve gainful employment.
Starbucks is expanding the thriving work placement program – currently operating in Surrey, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary – to include Montreal. Combined, these programs will create 4,100 jobs and work placements over the next three years.
