In 1999, the Forum of Labour Market Ministers endorsed a new strategy to develop and better disseminate labour market and career information products for youth. Schools could be the starting place for disseminating the new information tools being introduced by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. While favourable developments have taken place in recent years in the labour market for youth, certain groups of youth clearly warrant close attention. Not completing high school, or not achieving a given threshold in terms of skills, places youth at a serious disadvantage in an economy that demands a more highly skilled work force. Aboriginal youth, who are among the fastest growing segments of the youth population in Canada, pose especially serious challenges.
Aboriginal youth have much lower levels of educational attainment than the overall youth population.
In addition, Aboriginal youth, with the exception of university graduates, experience less favourable labour market outcomes than other youth with the same levels of educational attainment. It is critical for the future well-being of the Aboriginal communities to find appropriate ways to encourage Aboriginal youth to stay in school and to understand the factors that prevent them from reaping the same labour market outcomes as other youth in Canada. The Transition between School and Work Much of the focus in Canada s education systems has been on encouraging students to continue on to post-secondary education. There is a need to ensure that these youth are well prepared to enter the work force. There is evidence that the availability of flexible pathways in high school not only can encourage youth to stay in school, but can also lead to successful transitions into the labour market.