ABOUT US

Our Story

We are building a Canada where Indigenous and barriered jobseekers have the same employment opportunities as all other Canadians.

Our Children's Medicine connects Indigenous and barriered job seekers, Canadian businesses and non-profit agencies to eliminate barriers to employment.

Using HigherMe's job platform, job seekers create an online profile that bypasses the paper resume and allows them to highlight skills gained from lived experience rather than work experience.

Applications involve answering a multiple choice questionnaire and recording an optional short video. HigherMe's proprietary algorithm assigns a Match Score to the profiles, alerting HR managers of the suitability of a candidate for a certain role.

The Challenge

Indigenous youth face a far higher unemployment rate than most Canadians. What is preventing them from accessing employment? How can employers outreach to this community and provide greater economic opportunity?

6%

Canadian unemployment rate

16%

Youth unemployment rate

24%

Indigenous youth unemployment rate

Multiple, easily preventable barriers halt the job search of these applicants.

Limited work experience disadvantages candidates when hiring is resume-based

Limited resume-writing experience

No desktop internet to apply through job boards

No printer access for resume printing

Lack of confidence to walk in to a business with a resume

Past experiences of racism/discrimination make job seekers hesitant to apply to certain businesses

The Opportunity

With over 250,000 entry-level job vacancies per month and 600,000 unemployed youth, it is clear that job seekers are struggling to be considered for the ample opportunities in Canada.