By Canadian Immigrant Magazine |
Accenture has made a cash and in-kind services grant of more than C$1.1 million to ACCES Employment, a Canadian non-profit that helps connect employers with qualified workers from diverse backgrounds.
Although nearly 300,000 people immigrate to Canada every year, only about 24% of foreign-educated immigrants find work in their professions, according to Statistics Canada. This grant will develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered bot to help job seekers, many of whom are skilled newcomers to Canada, find online resources they need including articles, videos, skills assessments and e-learning modules, to secure jobs that align with their training and experience.
With approximately 75% of ACCES clients using self-serve and light-touch services, the bot will also free up time for ACCES employees to deliver other more customized services to job seekers online and in person. ACCES expects the new bot to enable it to help 15% more people during the first year it’s in operation.
“Through this solution, we’ll be able to help more people find meaningful and valuable work,” said Allison Pond, president and CEO of ACCES Employment. “We are proud of partners like Accenture, who share our goals and passion to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Together, we are on a mission to help people succeed and achieve their goals and aspirations for their careers and lives in Canada.”
ACCES’s programs have helped immigrants like Kelechi Uzoma, originally from Nigeria, find a job in Canada that draws from his previous management experience. He credits his success to the unique combination of support he received at ACCES, starting online before he moved to Canada, then in person, and eventually through employer networking events as an alumnus.
“The pressure that comes with migration can erode an individual’s self-confidence,” says Uzoma, who arrived in Canada in October 2017. “ACCES Employment was my North Star, giving me hope and confidence while equipping me with the resources to navigate the Canadian job market.”
According to Jeffrey Russell, president of Accenture in Canada, “Businesses have an opportunity and a responsibility to be a force for good in the world. At Accenture, we’re driving innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Our latest initiative with ACCES Employment will help more people get the support they need to find meaningful employment.”
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