Chamber urges implementing career exploration earlier for children

(Toronto – September 7, 2022) – As classes resume this week, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rocco Rossi released the following statement:

“This is an exciting time for students to learn new skills and about the different paths they might wish to take for applying them.

“As classes resume this week, we encourage the Ontario government to consider introducing career options to children at a younger age. For example, the Primary Futures Program based in the United Kingdom offers career exploration programs, mentorship opportunities, and career studies in partnership with employers. These are a meaningful way to introduce children, parents, and educators to a wide range of career options.

“We are supportive of the government’s emphasis on promoting the skilled trades as a viable career for young people and expanding financial literacy within Ontario’s education curriculum. As our workforce continues to age and expands the number of job vacancies across the economy, it is more important than ever that the government focuses on ways to introduce career paths in preparation for future labour market demand and a more inclusive economy.”

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
michelleeaton@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 261-4594