Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and Upskilling: It provided support to pursue additional education and training for new career opportunities according to recipients

CERB and other emergency pandemic programs played a critical role in mitigating the impact of large- scale employment losses in the spring and summer of 2020, notably for low- and modest-income workers. Likewise, the program helped fuel a labour market recovery and economic rebound in 2021 in a variety of ways, including, as our study finds, by facilitating the smooth transition back to employment. For a key group of young and disadvantaged workers, this included time and financial support to pursue additional education and training for new career opportunities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Canada’s unemployment rate reached one of its highest levels at 14.1 per cent. In response, the federal government launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), providing a financial benefit of $2,000 a month to workers directly affected by COVID-19.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) conducted research to understand the impact of CERB on recipients and how it shaped their decision to focus on skills, education and training and to pursue new work opportunities. There were focus groups and an online survey with 1,500 respondents across Canada.

Overall, CERB was a positive experience for recipients that provided much needed financial stability and helped to reduce stress during COVID-19. The CERB benefit also allowed receipts the time and support to consider further education, skills development and alternative employment opportunities, with 40 per cent of respondents taking some form of training.

CERB played a key role in helping recipients transition back into the labour force. Most participants felt CERB allowed them to re-enter the job market the way they wanted. The benefit also helped support positive career changes, with 41 per cent of participants reporting some type of career change. While CERB delivered immediate financial assistance, the program also allowed recipients the space to evaluate their employment situation and pursue additional education and training opportunities. This is an unexpected benefit of the CERB program that supported many recipients’ re-entry into the labour market. Integrating an education or upskilling component into income support programs could further help people re-enter the labour market after losing their jobs.

Source: Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @ Understanding CERB’s Impact: More than just an income support program? – Future Skills Centre • Centre des Compétences futures