About Us

Our mission

Job Skills’ mission is to elevate the economic and social contributions of individuals and organizations to enrich the vitality of our community.

Our Vision

Building an inclusive society where all people are ensured equitable opportunities to fulfill their career aspirations and participate fully in the community.

Who is Job Skills?

Job Skills, a non-profit charitable community-based employment, and training organization has successfully delivered employment solutions for 35 years across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and neighbouring regions. Today, the agency provides employment, employer, business, and newcomer services and programs in the York and Peel Regions.

Since 1988, the agency’s mission, vision, and values support a strong, outcome-focused and client-centric employment services system, grounded in responding to community needs and customer service excellence. Innovative programs and services, framed by technology, provide effective pathways to sustainable employment for individuals while also supporting the business community.

OUR VALUES

RESPECT   

We nurture safe and open spaces where we elevate people through trust, honesty and relationship building

EXCELLENCE

We commit to the highest standards and strive to be the best in all we do

INTEGRITY 

We act with uncompromising honesty and ethics

INNOVATION 

We turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into creative solutions

COLLABORATION 

We work together to inspire teamwork and unity

EQUITY 

We are dedicated to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture by eliminating barriers and promoting equal opportunities

BELONGING 

We provide an environment where everyone feels safe supported and accepted

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

We can’t do it alone – only with a large network of partners and stakeholders can we achieve success together and make a positive impact on the well-being of our community.

We work in collaboration with 100+ community partners in the GTA.

Our community partners include:

  • Employment service providers
  • Workforce planning boards
  • Immigrant serving organizations
  • Ethnic-specific organizations
  • Boards of Trade/Chambers of Commerce
  • School boards
  • Umbrella organizations
  • Municipalities
  • Local Immigrant Partnership Councils
  • Employer Associations

We are working together to provide relevant and impactful programming to build stronger communities. And thanks to the support of our funding partners, Job Skills provides an essential link to creating economically viable communities.

Board of Directors

Make a difference in our community by volunteering for the Job Skills Board of Directors. Share your expertise and knowledge with other community-minded individuals.

Every year, we help more than 15,000 un-employed/under-employed individuals as they seek employment or start their own business. With strong leadership, Job Skills strives to continue to grow. Be a part of that growth by volunteering a few hours a week and help shape our community.

our history

We are proud of our 35+ years SUPPORTING JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE community.

1988
Georgina Job Skills Project opens in Keswick, ON, providing Employment Services to under-serviced northern York Region. Three staff support 48 clients in the first year with job and life skills training, connecting with local employers to provide work experience opportunities.
1996
Business Services Division established. In succeeding years offers self-employment programs including: Ontario Self Employment Benefit Program (Newmarket, Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto); Business Information Service Centre (Keswick); and Youth Entrepreneurship Program (York and Peel Regions).
1997
Job Skills assumes a leadership role in the creation of a Community Service Delivery Network (CSDN) in York Region to enhance service delivery among service providers and professional development of staff.
1998
Job Skills celebrates its 10th anniversary. This also coincides with the launch of our new organization name (Job Skills), a fresh new logo and a website.
1999
Markham Employment, Business, and Community Services Centre opens with partners YMCA and Seneca College.
2001
Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities (MTCU) launches a new service delivery model for employment services. Job Skills serves 10,000+ clients annually.
2004
Expansion into Dufferin/Halton/Peel Regions means Job Skills delivers employment and self-employment programming to 25,000 clients through 13 sites with 90+ staff.
2007
Newcomer Services Division launches with specialized newcomer programming. First Welcome Centre Immigrant Services opens in Vaughan with Job Skills providing Newcomer Employment Supports as well as marketing and branding services.
2008
20th anniversary. Job Skills celebrates a new corporate name: Job Skills – Employment and Business Programs and Supports
2010
Launch of the new Employment Ontario model, provides Job Skills with a full suite of employment services in Brampton, Keswick, and Markham, serving all clients including newcomers, youth, and People with Disabilities. Job Skills becomes lead agency at Markham North Welcome Centre as four new Welcome Centres open in Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Markham South, and Markham North.
2013
25th anniversary. Job Skills celebrates with 10 offices in the GTA employing 90+ staff delivering 24 programs. Launch of Employer Event Series of enhanced services including training/conferences.
2016
New specialized programming options provide renewed emphasis on youth, people with disabilities, women, newcomers and new entrepreneurs.
2017
Job Skills expands its bridging supports for internationally educated professionals with a national bilingual online program to assist Human Resources professionals and a program to support health care professionals find alternative careers in Canada.
2018
30th anniversary. Job Skills sees growth in staff to 100, with more than 350 years of combined experience and speaking more than 25 languages.
2020
Employment Ontario Transformation begins, Job Skills participating in the prototype area in Peel Region.
2023
35th anniversary. Stouffville Employment Services opens.

Want to make a difference in your community?

Join the Job Skills team and be part of a group of dedicated individuals devoted to changing lives. Job Skills is committed to fostering a workplace that is both inclusive and representative of the communities we serve.

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