Supporting Mid-Career Workers in Retail and Meat Processing
Technological and demographic pressures are threatening the future livelihoods of mid-career retail and meat processing workers who face displacement due to automation.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) represents more than 45,000 cashiers and 40,000 food manufacturing workers, many of whom work in meat processing and may need to secure quality employment in other in-demand sectors of the economy.
This project tested how to equip union members – from 600 communities across Canada – with the requisite skills to transition to high-growth apprenticeship trades.
Leveraging existing training delivery mechanisms, the project evaluated a new suite of training modules focused on building and enhancing digital and soft skills as well as a hybrid approach that blended on-the-job experience with digital technologies.
While more than 900 union members received digital and soft-skills training and 250-plus received pre-apprenticeship training, the project found upskilling and reskilling efforts to help workers transition to high-growth sectors in the trades needs to address barriers faced by training providers and individuals.
Additionally, to maximize success, the project showed that curricula should be developed in partnership with employers and in collaboration with recognized educational institutions.
Training providers found a lack of recognition for pre-apprenticeship courses created disincentives for participants to undertake training. The program’s reach was further limited by difficulties in securing buy-in among employers for on-the-job training opportunities.
On an individual level, the project highlighted the need to raise awareness among members about the risks of automation and job displacement, and encourage a culture of lifelong learning.
Blueprint worked with UFCW to evaluate the program from 2019 to 2021. This report summarizes the findings from this evaluation to understand the outcomes achieved by participants and the experiences of participants and program staff in interacting with the program.
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