In the Airport Employment Zone (AEZ) around Toronto Pearson, more than 300,000 people pursue careers and contribute to overall prosperity. Yet when we look closely at our neighbouring communities, we see too many people who aren’t able to fully participate in the local economy. Some are unemployed. Many others are underemployed – that is, they can’t use all of their skills or work as many hours as they’d like. The reasons why people find themselves excluded vary, but the outcome is the same: they don’t enjoy the benefits that come from having a meaningful job, and a thriving regional economy misses out on their talents.
The economic well-being of the communities served by Toronto Pearson – and therefore the sustainability of our airport – depends on a range of factors. But one of the most critical is that local residents be able to leverage the full breadth of their knowledge and skills. We believe that we can help move the needle on underemployment by focusing our community investment program, the Propeller Project, on the right priorities.
We believe that we can help move the needle on underemployment by focusing our community investment program, the Propeller Project, on the right priorities.
In 2019, we put an important building block in place by collaborating with Deloitte on a whitepaper, Uncovering underemployment: Tapping into the potential of our workforce. The report explores the causes and impacts of underemployment and recommends a range of practical solutions to address it. Among the findings: those most at risk of being underemployed are women, youth, new Canadians, persons living with disabilities, Indigenous people and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The reasons vary, but chief among them are unrecognized credentials, lack of professional networks, inadequate social safety nets, and conscious or unconscious bias on the part of employers.
In response to these findings, we committed to investing $1 million through the Propeller Project to better define local underemployment in nearby communities, to design new programs addressing the problem – and, most importantly, to help the underemployed tap into their full potential and begin moving forward in their careers. In addition to direct investments, we’re working with airport employers and other partners to champion on-the-ground solutions that will make a meaningful difference.
In late 2019, we issued a call to non-profit organizations, private sector entities, educational institutions, researchers and employment-focused associations to propose projects tackling the opportunities identified in the whitepaper for both the airport workforce and our neighbouring communities. Of the 75 proposals received, seven projects were selected in March 2020 based on their alignment with our strategic priorities, workplan, financial feasibility, innovation, partnerships and projected impact. We look forward to collaborating with the partners leading these projects: ACCES Employment, Brands for Canada, Hospitality Workers Training Centre, CivicAction, Centre for Education and Training, Peel Halton Workforce Development Group and Toronto Region Board of Trade.
Underemployment is a Propeller Project priority
Individuals experiencing underemployment
Initiatives located in Brampton, Etobicoke and Mississauga
Interventions with employers
Wraparound employment support services and in-demand skills training
Research on local underemployment
Talent matching and career laddering supports
Education and/or advocacy to tackle underemployment
Pearson welcomed job seekers from ACCES Employment for a mini Speed Mentoring event with members of our Stakeholder Relations & Communications team.
Toronto Pearson’s Propeller Project already supports a number of programs that are tackling the complex issue of underemployment.
Job Skills
In 2019, we announced a $115,000 investment over two years to support the Propel Your Career (PYC) initiative run by Job Skills, a local not-for-profit employment service agency. Through three-day boot camps, PYC provides resources, support and motivation to help newly graduated women find meaningful employment in their fields of study.
ACCES Employment
Our new three-year, $150,000 partnership with ACCES Employment connects skilled newcomers to local employers through an expansion of the agency’s Speed Mentoring program. At each Speed Mentoring event, job seekers meet one-on-one with established professionals in their sector. The focused, 10-minute interactions create opportunities for mentors and mentees to share, learn and connect.
Windmill Microlending
We support Windmill Microlending (formerly the Immigration Access Fund) in providing access to low-interest loans for skilled immigrant professionals living in communities around the airport. These loans facilitate the accreditation process for newcomers seeking work in the professions they were trained in, as well as for those looking to upgrade their education and skills to establish new careers in Canada. Working with Windmill, we’re also engaging with Toronto Pearson employees to determine how many may be interested in applying for support to expand their professional skills and credentials.
Skills for Change
We’ve committed $50,000 over three years to support the work of this not-for-profit employment services organization. The Employer Innovation Project conducts evidence-based research with employers and newcomers in Peel Region to identify local needs related to hiring, training and retaining employees who are recent immigrants.
