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Partners in Employment supervisor Allyson Schaefer finds a lot of job satisfaction helping others find work.

“Watching the growth in people and their level of competence and confidence increase, and them to be connected to employers and see those successful connections that were really win-win situations for both the employee and the employer — I mean that’s hugely rewarding.”

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Partners in Employment marked its 20th year in Regina this year, and Schaefer has been with the organization for the past 10 years, beginning as a New Opportunities for Work (NOW) facilitator and becoming the Partners in Employment supervisor in June. She works for the Regina branch, which covers both Regina and Moose Jaw.

“I think that their vision, mission and values really drew me to them,” Schaefer said. “That really aligns with my own personal values of supportive employment, of everyone being included and people recognized for their skills and talents that they bring.”

Partners in Employment, which is a division of SaskAbilities, helps people with disabilities and other barriers to employment find and maintain work through four pillars: The right person at the right time with the right fit and the right supports.

It operates several programs including Building and Assessing Skills for Employment (BASE), NOW and In Demand. BASE helps job seekers learn skills needed for employment, and NOW and In Demand build on those skills and connect people with employers. The organization’s services are individualized to meet the needs of each client.

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Schaefer said she has seen many clients who were unaware of their strengths and skills, didn’t know where to start and were unsure of what direction they wanted to take when it came to finding a job.

“People come in for an intake meeting with a career planner and really start to identify who they are, what their skills and talents are, what their interests are what type of environment they might work best in,” she said, adding another tool used is a vocational evaluation — a series of formal and informal testing to help people determine their next steps.

Partners in Employment also has job developers who connect with employers and learn what their needs are. They currently have 844 employer connections across the region, and Schaefer said they’re always looking for more.

“Because we get to know our job seekers so well and develop those relationships with employers, we can really help people connect to the right job at the right time with the right supports — and that can equal success.”

While finding a job is important, maintaining employment can be difficult for some people, which is why Partners in Employment also provides job maintenance services.

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“I think lots of times it’s easier to get a job than to keep a job, and I think a huge piece of what we do is really helping make sure that someone is climatized to the environment, that they understand their role, and sometimes we can help with those pieces that employers might not have the extra time for,” Schaefer said.

“We can continue to be involved to assist with problem solving, questions that come up along the way, and if someone’s learning a new skill on the job we will even go in and provide on-site job coaching to help that person succeed and help the employer maintain that person as well.”

A recent labour report from Economic Development Regina estimated that as of mid-2023, approximately 4,400 job vacancies exist in and around the city. The report said the vacancies equate to around $428 million in unrealized employment income and $54 million in unrealized tax revenue annually, if left unfilled.

“I think it just sparks the need to really let people know what we’re doing,” Schaefer said.

“It’s our job, it’s our passion to help people connect to employment and to work with employers to help meet their recruitment and retention needs.”

Treynoldson@postmedia.com

— with files from Larissa Kurz

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