New data shows Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services system is leaving vulnerable job seekers behind

New analysis of government data obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveals that Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services (IES) system is consistently failing to deliver for social assistance recipients and other equity-deserving groups.

The data, analyzed by Maytree, shows employment outcomes for social assistance recipients are more than 10 percentage points lower than for other clients. This gap has persisted across regions and over multiple years. The analysis also highlights a growing gap between the number of people referred to the IES system and those who complete intake, raising questions about access and system design.

 “The government’s own data shows that those who need employment services most are being systematically underserved,” says Alexi White, Director of Systems Change at Maytree. “This isn’t just about employment services – it’s about Ontario’s fundamental approach to poverty reduction.”

The provincial government does not proactively release IES performance data, leaving the public and service providers without a clear picture of how the system is working. Maytree is calling on the government to:

• Implement proactive transparency measures, including regular public reporting on IES outcomes;

• Address systemic barriers in the IES model to improve equity in outcomes; and

• Adopt a comprehensive poverty reduction approach that includes stronger income supports alongside employment services.

Ontario’s 2020–2025 Poverty Reduction Strategy set a target to help 60,000 social assistance recipients find work annually. The data shows no progress toward this goal, underscoring the limits of an “employment-first” approach without broader supports.

Access the full policy brief, “Underserved: Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services is failing those in greatest need,” and the accompanying datasets.