Following concern about high youth unemployment in the early 1980's, the Ontario Government established a number of youth employment programs to provide job opportunities for youth. These programs included the funding of Youth Employment Counselling Centre's and the establishment of the FUTURES program.

FUTURES was established by the Ministry of Skills and Development in November 1985 to consolidate and replace six government youth programs including Youth Works, Youth Corps, Ontario Career Action Program, Youth Tourism and Youth Start. The intent of this consolidation was to eliminate gaps, inconsistencies and duplications which existed, while maintaining a consistent level of service to youth.

The Elgin/St. Thomas Youth Employment Counselling Centre (YECC) began operation in 1986 in a one room office at the local YMCA, and operated under its umbrella. Since then, the centre has become self incorporated and has moved office locations six times; from 1986-88 the centre was located on East Street. The centre secured FUTURES program funding beginning in 1987. By 1988, the changing economic and demographic conditions greatly altered the environment for youth employment programming. The labour market was demanding more workers with a broader skill base and simultaneously youth were becoming a scarcer commodity. In order to increase community profits and visibility, the centre moved again. In 1988 the centre moved to 485 Talbot Street, across from St. Joseph's High School. As a result of increased promotion and greater visibility, the centre's client intake increased substantially.

In order to co-ordinate delivery service to youth and local employees and to provide a "one stop shop" for the community, the YECC moved again in 1991. The centre co-located its services with Fanshawe College FUTURES at 41 Mondamin Street. As a result, the centre was able to expand its program base to include several new youth programs including Summer Experience in the Trades and Stay in School incentives. The YECC has worked in partnership with Fanshawe College in operating Jobs Ontario and co-ordinating service in the FUTURES program.

Continuing with the one-stop model, the YECC relocated to 451 Talbot Street in 1997. It became a part of Employment Services Elgin, a partnership developed to create a streamlined delivery of employment services. The partnership consisted of Human Resources Development Canada, Elgin Association for Community Living, Ontario Works, Fanshawe College Employment Services and Elgin /St. Thomas Youth Employment Counselling Centre.

At this location, the YECC in collaboration with Fanshawe College delivers Employment Services, a provincial program to assist people find employment through employment counselling, employment workshops, and job placements; an Information and Referral service for the partnership of Employment Services Elgin which provides for reception, referral to internal and external resources; and, coaching IRS users accessing resources and technology available in the Resource Centre, and delivers Summer Jobs Services (SJS) year round and during the summer, in partnership with the HRDC Student Services, provides assistance to students seeking summer employment.

The YECC continues to look to expand its services in Elgin County. In March of 2001, YECC co-located once again with the partnership into newly renovated quarters designed for smoother and more efficient delivery of services at 408 Talbot Street. The partnership consisted of Human Resouces Development Canada, Elgin Association for Community Living, the YWCA, and Elgin/St. Thomas Youth Employment Counselling Centre. In addition to delivering Job Connect, the YECC has been the delivery agency for Workstart, a computer assessment tool, under contract with HRDC since 1998. In that time, the program has gained widespread acknowledgement as a valuable testing tool in the Elgin County area. Additionally, the YECC has managed the Resource Centre at Employment Services Elgin since 2000, again under contract with HRDC. Currently the Employment Services Elgin partnership is located at 400 Talbot Street.

An Aylmer satellite location opened in 1998 and is operating full time. A West Lorne satellite location has opened in 1999, and services offered there continue to expand to meet the needs of the West Elgin area residents. Services in the Port Stanley area are delivered within that community from a summer office.

With it’s long history of employment counselling and community involvement in employment related projects, Employment Services Elgin has developed an expertise in information delivery to citizens who are actively seeking employment and/or retraining.

In September of 2004, the YECC purchased the building at 745 Talbot Street to renovate and establish a Youth Centre for the youth of Elgin County. The Youth Centre hosts programs delivered by the YECC, Junior Achievement, Youth Rotary International, YWCA, Health Unit, and the Association for Community Living.