Integrating the Unemployed through Customized Training

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of customized training, key concerns and its broader application. Under customized training, a designated organization works with employers to identify training needs for targeted jobs. The designated organization provides short-term, intensive training for these jobs. Several models of customized training are described including Opportunities for Employment in Winnipeg, the Learning Enrichment Foundation in Toronto and Partners for Jobs in Ottawa. Customized training is not a magic bullet solution to the problem of unemployment. Nor is it intended to stand alone; it is linked intrinsically to other labour market interventions that include education and job creation. Despite the apparent success of customized training, it raises several concerns such as narrow scope and creaming. Finally, the paper discusses the relevance of customized training to the postindustrial labour market. It is highly individualized to meet the needs of workers, employers, and the rapidly changing demands of a knowledge-based economy.