Scarborough Youth bridge to employment program

The Scarborough Business Association (SBA) is proud to launch the Scarborough Youth Bridge to Employment (SYBE) Program — a 10-week workforce pipeline designed to prepare, test, and verify young talent before they reach employers.

This is not traditional job training.

SYBE gives employers access to youth who have already demonstrated workplace readiness through structured training and real-world co-op placements. Participants are observed in live work environments, allowing employers to evaluate actual performance, attitude, reliability, and work ethic before making a hiring decision.

Hiring entry-level talent has become increasingly challenging. Resumes don’t always reflect work ethic, interviews rarely predict reliability, and onboarding can become a costly gamble.

SYBE was built to reduce that risk.

Before candidates reach employers, they are assessed on:

• Consistency and attendance
• Workplace professionalism
• Communication skills
• Team collaboration
• Accountability
• Real job performance in live settings
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This creates stronger hiring outcomes, better retention, and more confident employers.

Youth today are facing significant barriers to employment — limited experience, fewer opportunities, rising living costs, and increased competition in the job market.

For youth living in Scarborough’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), those challenges are often even greater.

Many young people in these communities face:

• Limited access to professional networks
• Transportation and financial barriers
• Reduced access to mentorship and career pathways
• Fewer opportunities for meaningful work experience
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Yet these communities are filled with ambitious, talented, and resilient young people looking for an opportunity to prove themselves.

SYBE helps bridge that gap.

By participating in SYBE, businesses are not simply filling positions — they are helping shape the future workforce of Scarborough.

Employers become part of a solution that:

• Creates economic opportunity
• Builds confidence and career pathways for youth
• Strengthens local communities
• Develops a more inclusive workforce
• Supports long-term talent development
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This is an opportunity for businesses to hire smarter while making a measurable community impact.

Together, we can create pathways to employment, reduce barriers for local youth, and build a stronger Scarborough economy for everyone.