Improved Career Development Services for Nova Scotians

Officials are working to ensure that Nova Scotians have the help they need while they plan for their first jobs, move into new careers or try to keep up with changes in their current workplaces.

Representatives from the government of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and other partners met today, Sept. 22, at the Nova Scotia Symposium on Career Development to discuss how to work together to provide a co-ordinated and accessible approach to career development services to Nova Scotians.

"The workplace is becoming a more complex and constantly changing environment as technology advances, and we have a need for more highly skilled workers," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Access to high quality career development information and services will allow Nova Scotians to adapt and thrive in their workplaces."

The symposium supports one of the goals of the Canada-Nova Scotia Skills and Learning Framework, a partnership arrangement between the government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia that supports skills and learning initiatives for Nova Scotians.

"Ensuring that Canadians have the skills and knowledge required for today's economy and society is a national challenge, one that no single government, or governments alone, can meet," said Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development. "By co- ordinating our efforts, the government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia can provide a more strategic and effective response to the labour market needs and workforce requirements of Nova Scotians."

A co-ordinated system of career development in Nova Scotia will help students in the early stages of planning for a career, through graduation and entry into the workforce. The system would also help adults who are looking for information on how to re- enter or move within the workforce, and how to be successful in an evolving labour market.

"In Nova Scotia, the transition to a more knowledge-intensive economy has led to an elevation in the basic requirements for successful participation in the labour market - in fact, a portfolio of sophisticated knowledge and skills, and the capacity to be a lifelong learner are essential," said Ray Ivany, president, NSCC. "In our continuing efforts to prepare Nova Scotians for this reality, we look forward to this next important step of working with the federal and provincial governments on collaborative career development to help more Nova Scotians 'learn a living'."

Representatives from the federal and provincial governments, the public school system, post-secondary education and training providers, business and labour, career development practitioners, and consumers participated in the symposium.

A report will be created that summarizes the discussions and recommendations from today's Career Development Symposium. It will be available online through the Skills Nova Scotia Web site at www.ednet.ns.ca .