<sod>As with many other immigrant groups in the Toronto area, Somalis have faced some barriers to employment despite including many qualified professionals. This has been attributed to enclave economies, self-employment, language unfamiliarity, and various public policies and social programs.<ref>http://www.utoronto.ca/ethnicstudies/Reitz_JIMI_2.pdf</ref><ref name="Gochsyiepfjm">{{cite web|url=http://somalidiasporanews.com/index.php/2010/12/government-of-canada-helps-somali-youth-in-edmonton-prepare-for-job-market/ |title=Government of Canada Helps Somali Youth in Edmonton Prepare for Job Market |publisher=Somalidiasporanews.com |date=2010-12-21 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartamaha.com/?p=29486 |title=Small business fails to tap into immigrant talent |publisher=Bartamaha.com |date=2011-09-24 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref> To address the issue, in 2010 the Canadian government, in coordination with the Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization's Somali Youth Skills Project, set up job-preparation training and work experience programs for local Somali youth. Part of the Canadian government's Youth Employment Strategy, this initiative is intended to help youngsters facing employment challenges to better access career information, develop skills, gain relevant work experience, find jobs and stay employed.<ref name="Gochsyiepfjm"/> The Canadian Somali Congress has also teamed up with local [[Jew]]ish community organizations in Ottawa and Toronto to offer mentorship opportunities to young Somali university students and professionals. The program is scheduled to span two years and takes place in various major cities across the country, partnering 130 experienced Jewish-Canadian mentors with 18- to 25-year-old Somali-Canadians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/05/03/ottawa-jewish-somali-mentorship.html |title=Jewish community to mentor Ottawa Somalis |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2010-05-03 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/200906241779/Jewish-and-Somali-Canadians-join-forces-with-government-s-help-on-mentoring-plan.html |title=Jewish and Somali Canadians join forces with government’s help on mentoring plan |publisher=Jewishtribune.ca |date=2011-10-11 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><eod>
<sod>As with many other immigrant groups in the Toronto area, Somalis have faced some barriers to employment despite including many qualified professionals. This has been attributed to enclave economies, self-employment, language unfamiliarity, and various public policies and social programs.<ref>http://www.utoronto.ca/ethnicstudies/Reitz_JIMI_2.pdf</ref><ref name="Gochsyiepfjm">{{cite web|url=http://somalidiasporanews.com/index.php/2010/12/government-of-canada-helps-somali-youth-in-edmonton-prepare-for-job-market/ |title=Government of Canada Helps Somali Youth in Edmonton Prepare for Job Market |publisher=Somalidiasporanews.com |date=2010-12-21 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartamaha.com/?p=29486 |title=Small business fails to tap into immigrant talent |publisher=Bartamaha.com |date=2011-09-24 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref> To address the issue, in 2010 the Canadian government, in coordination with the Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization's Somali Youth Skills Project, set up job-preparation training and work experience programs for local Somali youth. Part of the Canadian government's Youth Employment Strategy, this initiative is intended to help youngs Somalis facing employment challenges to better access career information, develop skills, gain relevant work experience, find jobs and stay employed.<ref name="Gochsyiepfjm"/> The Canadian Somali Congress has also teamed up with local [[Jew]]ish community organizations in Ottawa and Toronto to offer mentorship opportunities to young Somali university students and professionals. The program is scheduled to span two years and takes place in various major cities across the country, partnering 130 experienced Jewish-Canadian mentors with 18- to 25-year-old Somali-Canadians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/05/03/ottawa-jewish-somali-mentorship.html |title=Jewish community to mentor Ottawa Somalis |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2010-05-03 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/200906241779/Jewish-and-Somali-Canadians-join-forces-with-government-s-help-on-mentoring-plan.html |title=Jewish and Somali Canadians join forces with government’s help on mentoring plan |publisher=Jewishtribune.ca |date=2011-10-11 |accessdate=2011-10-25}}</ref><eod>