Back to work program gives direction to individuals re-entering the workforce

Retired and unemployed workers aged 55 to 64 can get a leg up on their return to the workforce by participating in a Back To Work Program offered through the Great Plains College.

"We have been hearing for a while now of how we are actually short of laborers in this area of the world. I think even with the downturn of the economy we are still anticipating that in Saskatchewan we can't find employees. That often means that in the province we lose opportunities because the businesses are not relocating here because of the lack employees available here," explained Darryl Denning, Senior Counsellor, Student Services at Great Plains College.

The six week course is designed to help unemployed individuals plan a career path, develop a resume, along with identifying current skills and developing additional skills. This skill development component will be targeted to individual participants.

"The part of the individualization is the hope to be able to slot them into training that is already there," Denning said. "There are limited dollars available but the government has provided funding to run this program, but there are limits as to being able to run one on one programs for somebody... but in some areas it can work with some computer training we could do that sort of thing depending upon what it is."

Participants will then have a two week work placement at the end of the course.

The program has already attracted 12 participants, and one business has already called to participate in the work placement.