Youth & International Student Retention

November 14, 2014 Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Saeed El-Darahali

Chair Immigration & Retention Committee

Contributors

• Dr. Martha Crago Jarrell Whisken• Joella Fould Kelly Meagher• Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed Robyn Webb• Chantel Brine Jeff Larson• Andy Osborne Gerry Mills• Jonathan Williams Mike Kennedy• Rany Ibrahim, Sonja Grcic-Stuart• Akram Al-otumi Chris Bryant• Fadi Al Qassar Maha Amin• Jackie Guo Kimberly White• Jennifer Liu Jan Sheppard Kutcher• David Nurse

FACTS

• Nova Scotia is on the verge of a significant and prolonged decline

• Rural regions of the province where more than two-fifths of our population now make their living

• We need to achieve significantly higher rates of attraction and retention of both inter-provincial and international immigrants to grow the population overall, increase the number of entrepreneurs, and renew the labour force

• Youth leaving the community or the province for job opportunities

• Not completing high school and troubling decline in literacy and numeracy levels

CAUSE

• Our current population challenge has two dimensions: a decline in the absolute number of people in the province but also the changing age group make-up.

• Nova Scotia now has the oldest age profile of any Canadian province except Newfoundland and Labrador, with more people retiring out of the labour force than young people entering.

CORRELATIONS

• We cannot grow the population unless the economy is generating more jobs to stem out-migration and attract immigrants

• We cannot sustain economic growth over time unless renewed population growth provides more workers, more entrepreneurs and more consumers

CHALLENGES

• People, especially young and more skilled people, will pursue opportunities to improve their situation and realize their aspirations.

• Businesses throughout NS economy face a new and growing challenge in attracting and retaining skilled labour.

• New immigrants and our own young people will not stay and raise families in local communities when they have much more attractive career opportunities in other places.

• Opening up our workplaces to greater participation by minority and disadvantaged people, and building job skills and entrepreneurship among these groups, are critical objectives for social and economic progress in NS.

NOW OR NEVER

• Unless Nova Scotia first stabilizes the population base and then begins to increase the population of working age people, it will not be possible to sustain current levels of economic well-being across the province, let alone improve them.

• There are only two ways to grow the population significantly over the medium term: expand international immigration and substantial net inflows from inter-provincial migration.

PLANNING FRAMEWORK

• Now – A quick solution to help drive momentum.

• Short-term – A solution that can be implemented in 6-12 months.

• Long-term – A solution that can be implemented in 12-48 months.

• Creative – A solution that can be implemented with long term sustainability but may require more research and support.

Youth Employment

Reduce unemployment to 14%.

Connecting Skill with Opportunity• Hello Mr. El-Darahali,•

• My name is Mark and I have been living in Halifax for the past 3 years now. I graduated from CBU university in Sydney in 2011. Since then I have been trying to find a job in my field in Information System Technology in companied with my experience that I gathered in the last 3 years in Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. But unfortunately I had no luck. I wish if you allow me to meet with you for couple of minutes to ask you some advise in where and how to start my career in my field and what advise you can give me since you are a very successful business man in your field. I really hope that I get to meet with you soon, I tried to apply for jobs in my field 1000 times but was never successful, I hope you have some advice to help me. All I hope for is to start a job in a decent and growing company.

•

• Thank you , • Mark H.

A “Now” Idea: Diversity & Inclusion Index (DII)

(Now, Short-term, Long-term, Creative)• Everyone is an equal opportunity employer, but we need

accountability.• The concept of the DII program is to provide a website badge for

businesses that participate in the program. The index will include minority groups and youth as part of the classification. Our goal is to have each business include at least 1 individual that is either an immigrant, youth, minority or a disabled person.

• The more diversified we are the higher the probability of inclusion of all members of society

• We need to set the goal to 10% for DII• Government needs to drive DII as part of the RFP requirements and

ask businesses to report their DII score. Indirect influence.

S: Business Competition at High School Level

• Introduce a two week business competition at all high schools. The goal is to initiate the entrepreneurial spirit as a focused effort for two full weeks.

• Workshops would be provided by teachers• 1st week each high school will choose 5 top teams to compete on

regional level• Each of the five teams will complete at the provincial level at a local

university• Deliverable – 15 page power point presentation of the business and

10 page business plan• $100,000 cash prize for the winning team + $50,000 will go to the

winning high school• An organisation like Junior Achievement could organise the event.

L: Employer Incentive to Hire Youth

• Create a oneNS rotation desk at every employer in the province. The pilot program will be launched with only 1,000 desks on a first come basis.

• The compensation could be $500/week, credit of 50% of the program will be paid back to the employer at end of year.

• Cost of the program - $13M [ Feds have a program to cover partial cost]• Maximum of one term per new graduate. You can’t reoffer to the same

employee, if the employer likes the worker, they can offer them a contract.

• Maximum 4 work terms per employee. You can only be admitted in the program once.

• Selection will be based on youth career objectives and company industry. Random selection, employer is supporting the initiative not burdened by it.

L: Study & Work in NS Program

• Option # 1– If you study at a NS university and work at NS company, we

will eliminate your NS tax payable for the first 2 years.

• Option # 2– NS government will refund your interest expense on your

loan for the first 2 years.

• Option #3– If you stay in NS for 4 years, you will receive lump sum

payment of NS tax amount to apply for the next 2 years to your NS tax bill.

C: Adopt a student program

• Each professional in NS will adopt a 3rd year student at a local university or college.

• The goal is to share with them the skills that are needed in their chosen field.

• Maximum 5-hour mentorship face-to-face program over 4 month period.

• Produce the top 10-skills needed to succeed in their chosen field.

• Celebrate the volunteers.

International Students

Gain of 7,000 new permanent resident per year

N: Immigration Fast Track

• At 4th year, initiate an immigration recruitment program and encourage students to apply for permanent residency.

N: Assist NS business to export to your native homeland

• Support a local business to export successfully their product to your native homeland.

• When the business exports successfully, they must write you a letter and substantiate the size of the exports.

S: Business Start-up Program

• Start a business in NS and hire one full-time Canadian Citizen for 14 months and automatically receive permanent residency status.

• Most students have access to cash from overseas, this will encourage them to take the risk and start a business.

L: Open branch office

• Setup a branch office of company from your homeland and generate revenue in NS.

C: Permanent Residency Sponsor Incentive

• Sponsor an international student to gain permanent residency status and receive 25% credit on NS tax in year one and 50% in year two.

• The goal of the program is to provide international students access to two years experience and become productive citizens.

• NS will become the most attractive province for students and international students.

S: Graduate Level Program(Post undergraduate)

• Complete graduate or Ph’d level program after completing 4 year undergraduate program in the province.

• Or complete a two-year college program

Discussion

Thank You!