ACCES will use grant to develop an AI-powered bot
to enable the organization to help more job seekers
and deliver more customized services
TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - Accenture (NYSE: ACN)
has made a cash and in-kind services grant of more than
C$1.1 million to ACCES
Employment, a Canadian non-profit that helps connect employers with
thousands of qualified workers from diverse backgrounds each
year.
ACCES will use the grant to develop an artificial intelligence
(AI)-powered bot to improve services for job seekers, many of
whom are newcomers to Canada. The
digital solution will help skilled newcomers secure jobs that align
with their training and experience. Although nearly 300,000 people
immigrate to Canada every year,
only about 24% of foreign-educated immigrants find work in their
professions, according to Statistics Canada.
Using conversational AI, automation and machine
learning, the bot will act as a virtual attendant, helping job
seekers find the online resources they need, including articles,
videos, skills assessments and e-learning modules. With
approximately 75% of ACCES clients using self-serve and light-touch
services, the bot will also free up time for ACCES employees to
deliver other more customized services to job seekers online and in
person.
"At Accenture, we believe in the power of emerging technologies
to create solutions that have a positive, lasting impact on people
and communities," said Janet
Krstevski, a managing director who leads Accenture's Talent
& Organization practice in Canada. "We are excited about the impact this
project will have and are committed to supporting ACCES Employment
in its goal to help newcomers build successful careers in
Canada."
This announcement follows a C$1.4
million grant from Accenture in 2016 that ACCES used to
develop an online platform to deliver services and resources,
enabling the organization to double the number of job seekers it
serves to more than 35,000 in 2019. ACCES expects the new bot to
enable it to help 15% more people during the first year it's in
operation.
"Through this solution, we'll be able to help more people find
meaningful and valuable work," said Allison
Pond, president and CEO of ACCES Employment. "We are proud
of partners like Accenture, who share our goals and passion to
build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Together, we are on a
mission to help people succeed and achieve their goals and
aspirations for their careers and lives in Canada."
ACCES's programs helped Kelechi
Uzoma, originally from Nigeria, find a job in Canada that draws from his previous management
experience. He credits his success to the unique combination of
support he received at ACCES, starting online before he moved to
Canada, then in person, and
eventually through employer networking events as an alumnus.
"The pressure that comes with migration can erode an
individual's self-confidence," said Uzoma, who arrived in
Canada in October 2017. "ACCES Employment was my
North Star, giving me hope and
confidence while equipping me with the resources to navigate the
Canadian job market."
Jeffrey Russell, president of
Accenture in Canada, said,
"Businesses have an opportunity and a responsibility to be a force
for good in the world. At Accenture, we're driving innovation to
improve the way the world works and lives. Our latest initiative
with ACCES Employment will help more people get the support they
need to find meaningful employment."
Accenture's grant is aligned with its corporate citizenship
initiative, Skills to Succeed, and is underpinned by innovation and
advanced technologies to help solve critical challenges facing
business and society. As part of the grant, Accenture has committed
C$200,000 in pro bono work to help
bring the project to life. The project will further serve as a
testing ground for Accenture to use emerging technology at scale
and for good, with design expertise pulled from across the
company.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy,
consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries
and all business functions—underpinned by the world's largest
delivery network—Accenture works at the intersection of business
and technology to help clients improve their performance and create
sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 505,000 people
serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives
innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.
Visit www.accenture.com.
About ACCES Employment
ACCES Employment is a leader in connecting employers with
qualified employees from diverse backgrounds. More than 35,000 job
seekers are served annually at seven locations across the
Greater Toronto Area. As a
not-for-profit organization, ACCES receives funding from all levels
of government, corporate sponsors, various donors and the United
Way Greater Toronto. For more information about services and
programs at ACCES, please visit www.accesemployment.ca.
SOURCE Accenture