The Employment Services Division started to assist job seekers to overcome employment barriers in 1986. From job finding club service helping only Chinese Immigrants to prepare resumes, we are now a multicultural service team providing career development guidance services for all. Based on social work values, we have incorporated a client-centered, behavioural oriented case management model to serve our clients. On top of a labour market resources library, we have developed a virtual resource website to give job seekers easy access to online resources. This website has also made our services more accessible and user friendly.

In 2008-2009, we were very successful in the government open bidding process. With a total funding of over $10 million, we provide a wide range of services not only to immigrants but also to all job seekers in the community. Apart from operating six employment service centers in the Lower Mainland, we partnered with our Settlement Services Division to open a new office in Fort St. John. We are able to provide integrative service to immigrants who choose to start their new life in that part of northern BC. Last but not least, a bright spot of our achievements last year is the successful launching of two overseas offices in Taipei and Seoul. We provide pre-landing services for prospective immigrants by addressing their employment needs at their source countries.

With a multicultural team of 103 full time staff, we deliver services in a culturally sensitive manner to job seekers regardless of their cultural background and level of English language skills according to the diverse labour market needs. In 2008-2009, we served over 2,800 case-managed clients, more than 80% of whom have secured employment of their choice. We also served about 25,000 job seekers through other specialized programs, such as career exploration workshops, job search skills enhancement, workplace diversity and job maintenance, job fairs, skill upgrading and mentorship.

The terms “client-centered” and “action-oriented” can best describe the essence of our working philosophy as all services, information and resources are structured around both immediate and long term needs of our clients. With a unique blend of social work experience with human resource professionalism, we offer services and programs that are designed to equip our clients with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in today’s highly competitive labour market. Last year, SES was able to serve more than 7500 job seekers through a holistic service model bringing individual, community partners and business corporations together. With strong community collaborative efforts, participants will be able to access professional needs assessment, guidance to formulate a realistic career development or return to work action plan, and then be connected to a variety of training opportunities or be assisted to participate actively in the labour market. Together with the contribution from a professional staff team, the communities and the employer network, we are glad to be able to maintain a success rate at 85 % to 90 % in all programs.

As pointed out by our beloved late CEO, Mrs. Lilian To, “It is due to the community spirit of CARING, SHARING & SERVING that we have accomplished so much.” In the coming year, funding support remains to be a challenge to the stability of these much needed services. With the strong and unfailing support from the community, we are confident that our services will carry on not only meeting government specific targets but also making continuous positive contribution to community growth and development.

SES Offices:

• Coquitlam, Tri-City
• Burnaby
• New Westminster
• Vancouver, Downtown Hornby
• Vancouver, Fraser
• Vancouver, Keefer
• Fort St John
• Seoul, South Korea
• Taipei, Taiwan

We have 5 basic categories for our trainings:

• Group Services
• Individual Services
• Provincial Programs
• Youth Programs