Economic Security for Women in Rural Areas“WISE by Plan”

By Madelaine Currelly

This project is funded by the Status of Women Canada

Status of Women Canada funded a 3 year project to study economic security for rural women.

The focus of the project: the local economy, Job Search Strategies, Financial Literacy

Job search strategies and Financial Literacy are inextricably linked. Economic Security requires an understanding of both

Review

The project involved approximately 200 local women representing the following groups:

◦ Women who live/work on farms◦ Women in receipt of financial assistance◦ Women looking for employment◦ Women who are currently employed◦ Young women graduating from High School or

College/University

Review

The first phase of the project involved a Gender Based Analysis (GBA) of women’s economic security both nationally and locally

The Results indicated that men and women job search differently, men and women handle money differently and participate in the economy differently

Gender Based Analysis

Job Search:◦ Women tend to rely more on family and friends

(strong ties) for job search assistance rather than approaching others in the community (weak ties).

◦ Women may be at a disadvantage as their social networks are comprised of more women than men. This may funnel women back into traditionally female-dominated, low-paying jobs.

Gender Based Analysis

◦ Women are less likely to develop job search goals than men, this therefore affects their ability to be strategic, resulting in a higher need for coaching

◦ Women are more likely to take a lower paying job which affects their economic security

Gender Based Analysis

Financial Literacy: ◦ While women are more effective at daily

budgeting, they are more risk–averse than men. This means that they are less likely to seek out investment information or to invest.

◦ Women are less confident in their financial literacy knowledge and skills.

◦ Women do not utilize weak ties effectively to develop their financial knowledge and make financial decisions.

Gender Based Analysis

Based on the input from local women, the stakeholders identified the following two priorities:

◦ Access to relevant information and resources in an unbiased, non-judgemental environment that is easy to understand

◦ Relevant training for local opportunities and job search strategies including coaching and mentoring

Priorities

Videos

◦ Women requested information that is accessible, easy to understand and in story-telling format

◦ Videos can be easily accessed by rural women. They will be available online, at local libraries and through local employment partners

Our Outcomes

Videos

◦ Job A and Job B◦ Research, Research, Research◦ Effective Networking◦ A Tailored Approach to Applying ◦ The Art of the Interview

Our Outcomes

Virtual coaching for job search through online tool

Job search strategies and job search process driven

Only tool with virtual coaching capabilities 6 licenses

www.snagpad.com/ctdc

Our Outcomes

A Learning Platform

◦ Job seeker learns through online courses and research based process using a virtual coach

◦ System includes a self-paced 8 module learning course; Social Capital Development and Strategic Job Search Management

◦ Job Seekers are presented with weekly challenges, based on their needs, to ensure that they continue to improve their understanding of the strategies

SnagPad

An Organization & Management tool

◦ Seamlessly records and stores all critical job search info in one location

◦ Job Seekers can see at a glance their entire job search process allowing them to stay focused on their activity

◦ Reports on job seeker activity are easily printed or shared with their virtual coach

SnagPad

A Virtual Job Coach

◦ Experienced job coach available 24/7 ◦ Virtual coach can easily communicate with the job

seeker in a variety of ways◦ strategies, challenges and videos to teach critical

job search techniques for every step of job search process

SnagPad

A Job Support Network

Job seekers can request their network to become “supporters” of their job search

“Supporters” can be sent a weekly e-mail keeping them informed of the job seekers process

Accounts can be linked to e-mail, facebook or linkedin contacts

SnagPad

A Game

◦ Job search process is turned into a game by providing rewards and encouragement for following specific behaviours

◦ Job seekers earn ‘badges’ by completing steps that make them strategically more effective

◦ A ‘strategic score’ is visible for each job opportunity identified.

SnagPad

Community Training & Development Centre

Phone: (905) 372-9967 Email: wisebyplan@gmail.com

Website: www.wisebyplan.com

Videos available through Wise By Plan website or directly through YouTube using the Wise By Plan channel

Online learning and management tool (SnagPad) available through www.snagpad.com/ctdc (view as job seeker)

Gender-Based Analysis and Forum results available through Wise By Plan website

WISE By Plan

How to Reach Us