Career and employment counselling
Career and employment counsellors help individuals plan for and make appropriate career choices -- they provide the tools that individuals need to make career decisions. Counsellors today face a wide variety of counselling situations and counselling needs: 3.3 million students attending secondary school in Canada, 500,000 attending community college, nearly a million in university, 1.5 million unemployed, 2 million on social assistance, 400,000 underemployed. Many are in need of career and employment counselling, yet many do not receive it -- they fall between the cracks in the existing system. Studies show that most high-school dropouts never discuss leaving school with anyone from the school.
They also reveal that counsellors tend to reinforce the academic bias of our education system by not promoting career opportunities outside of those offered by colleges and universities. Counsellors' lack of awareness of career options in the trades, the apprenticeship system, and entry-level jobs in the service sector means that young people are not being provided with the information they need to make career decisions. Less than 10% of Canada's apprentices are informed about apprenticeship opportunities by counsellors or teachers.
In every province/territory in Canada, except Quebec, anyone can establish him- or herself as a career counsellor with no accreditation. Professional preparation of counsellors -- whether in schools, colleges, community centres, or CECs -- is a necessity.
We believe that counselling can play a pivotal role in a coherent transition system.
Key recommendations