Summary

Funded by the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada, PolicyWise for Children & Families is exploring solutions to address high staff turnover and vacancy rates in the food and beverage sector in Alberta. The aim of the two-year project is to reduce barriers newcomer young adults face entering and thriving as employees in the sector, while addressing challenges food and beverage operators experience.

Readers of the year one Summary Report will learn about the barriers newcomer young adults face with employment in the food and beverage sector, along with principles and actions to address them. The roles and strengths of three stakeholder groups are highlighted: newcomer young adults, food and beverage operators, and social and community support agencies.

Practice & Policy Implications

• Policy makers can learn ways to improve conditions for newcomer young adults in the food and beverage sector through employment preparation, inclusive recruitment, professional development, and improving access to community supports.
• Food and beverage operators, community support agencies, and newcomer community groups can apply employment equity principles to prioritize the well-being and dignity of newcomer young adults in their plans for action.
• Taking a strength-based and cross-sectoral approach to addressing vacancy rates can mitigate challenges faced by food and beverage operators while creating meaningful employment opportunities for newcomer young adults.
• Adopting promising practices in recruitment and retention can help improve the overall health and well-being of newcomer young adults.