Initiative Overview

The Better Jobs Ontario Manufacturing Sector Initiative is a separate stream within Better Jobs Ontario designed to be responsive to labour market fluctuations by supporting recently laid off individuals in the manufacturing sector to obtain skills training. This training will increase the participant’s competitiveness and facilitate their quick re-entry into the labour market.

The initiative, while temporary, presents an opportunity to enhance access to Second Career to:

• Provide targeted support to impacted individuals in the manufacturing sector;
• test a sector focused approach; and,
• gain knowledge that will inform future program design.

The Better Jobs Ontario Manufacturing Sector Initiative launched on April 1, 2020.

Yes.

To better assist individuals impacted by manufacturing sector layoffs, this initiative creates a separate eligibility and suitability stream within Better Jobs Ontario. The initiative’s eligibility and suitability criteria differ from regular Better Jobs Ontario in the following ways:

• Targeted Individuals: Eligibility is limited to individuals laid off from a job in the manufacturing sector as of January 1, 2019. This can be any type of job.
• Revision of Eligibility Date: Under the initiative, individuals must have been laid off on or after January 1, 2019. The layoff eligibility date for Better Jobs Ontario remains on or after January 1, 2005.
• Revision of Suitability Indicators: To enable targeted individuals to access training sooner, service providers will automatically award maximum points in the Active Job Search, Duration of Unemployment and Work History suitability criteria. Assessment of the remaining criteria, Educational Attainment, Labour Market Prospects, Type of Training and Occupational Skills Experience, does not change.
• Removing the ineligibility stipulation regarding completing training within last two years for individuals who were laid off in the manufacturing sector: Individuals who have completed training within the past two years, regardless of the source of funding, will be considered eligible under the initiative. These individuals are ineligible under Better Jobs Ontario.
• Individuals with a layoff recall date or those seasonally employed: Under the initiative, individuals in receipt of a “recall to work” notice from their former employer, or who are seasonally employed, are not eligible. These individuals are eligible under Better Jobs Ontario.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada defines NAICS 31-33 – Manufacturing as a sector that comprises establishments primarily engaged in the chemical, mechanical or physical transformation of materials or substances into new products. These products may be finished, in the sense that they are ready to be used or consumed, or semi-finished, in the sense of becoming a raw material for an establishment to use in further manufacturing. This site also lists all subsector industries.

Employment Service providers are responsible for identifying potential clients.

Workers impacted by a mass layoff in the manufacturing sector will be informed of the initiative through the Rapid Re-employment and Training Services (RRTS) process.

An optional Better Jobs Ontario Manufacturing Sector Initiative – RRTS Information Deck is available for use at applicable RRTS information sessions.

Service providers will use a combination of their knowledge of the local labour market, review of applicant supplied job information (record of employment, Better Jobs Ontario application) and the North American Industry Classification System definition of the manufacturing sector to determine whether the applicant was laid off from a job in the manufacturing sector.

No, eligibility is limited to individuals laid off from a job in the manufacturing sector.

Yes, service provider validation of the requested skills training, including assessment of employment prospects upon completion of training, must be conducted in line with current program processes.

The aim of the initiative is to assist permanently laid off individuals who require skills training in order to re-enter the labour market. Laid off individuals in receipt of a “recall to work” notice do not require skills upgrading in order to return to work.

If an individual’s “recall to work” date has expired and they have not resumed working, the individual could be considered for this initiative.

If the laid off individual wants to change occupations, they may qualify for the initiative.

Yes, the stipulation of not completing training within the last two years would apply to initiative participants who later request training under regular Better Jobs Ontario.