What will the Youth Climate Corps achieve?
The national campaign for a Youth Climate Corps recommends that Benchmarks should be determined using the following criteria for the 2026 YCC Pilot
Performance measures should be linked to the seven priorities set out in the Prime Minister's Mandate Letter. They should also directly address the program objectives stated in Budget 2025 to
“support reducing youth unemployment, increasing innovation, and strengthening adaptation and mitigation projects.”
Data collection should include participant surveys (satisfaction with the program – safety, working conditions, wages, quality of opportunities, etc. – expectations, outcomes), surveys of program partners and delivery organizations, and labour market data from Statistics Canada and Job Bank (e.g., wages for fields of work/training).
Basic program information
Number of participants enrolled, with breakdowns by region, age, sex, and race
Information on program delivery partners: type (NGO, business, educational institution), number, region, etc.
Average number of months participants spend in the YCC, with breakdowns by field of work/training, region, age, sex, and race
Retention - percentage of participants that don't complete their work/training and why, with breakdowns by region, age, sex, and race
Program satisfaction (survey of participants and program partners)
Measure of Budget 2025 objectives
Percentage of jobs/training opportunities in the fields of climate emergency response and recovery and strengthening community resilience
Reducing youth unemployment: number of new jobs created for youth, number of training opportunities leading to high-paying careers created for youth
Strengthening adaptation and mitigation projects: number of climate mitigation and adaptation projects supported by YCC participants.
Creating new careers in the skilled trades
Training segments completed and underway: number, field, participant demographic information
Core curriculum delivery: number of participants completed and underway
Work experience segments completed and underway: number, field, participant demographic information
Fields of work/training: average wage, Red Seal or other credentials, region, participant demographic information
Percentage of work/training placements in fields with Red Seal or other credentials
Average wage of fields in which YCC participants are placed
Helping Canadians get ahead
Wage of participants, with breakdowns by region, age, sex, race, and field.
Expected participant outcomes post-YCC (interim measure during YCC participation)
Expected credentials to be obtained or working towards
Expected field of employment post-YCC
Expected wage post-YCC in field of work/training
Post-YCC plans for education, training, and employment
Actual participant outcomes post-YCC (measurement can begin after participants graduate, with surveys at 6 and 12 months post-graduation, and annually after that until 5 years):
employment/education status
current field of work/training
current wage
credentials completed or underway