This is Part 2 of a resource roundup of retraining funding and supports across Canada. Check out Part 1 to learn about federally funded programs.
Canada’s labour market continues to evolve amid economic uncertainty. Tariff threats, inflation and waves of layoffs in sectors like tech and retail are creating challenges for both jobseekers and employers. At the same time, many Canadians are reconsidering their career goals, skillsets and work-life values. Whether you’re looking to make a career pivot or support employees through retraining, there are financial supports available to help. Here are funding and supports for individuals and organizations, organized by province and territory.
Are we missing training programs and funding in your province or territory? Drop us a note in the comments to let us know, or email careerwise@ceric.ca.
Alberta
Alberta Jobs Now program
The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work. Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans in new or vacant positions.
Employment and Training Services Directory
This directory provides jobseekers with local programs and services that help individuals get training, find and keep jobs, and adapt to a changing labour market.
Foundational Learning Assistance
Students in foundational learning and skills development programs can apply for funding to help with education and living costs. This financial assistance program offers opportunities for unemployed or underemployed Albertans to prepare for further education or develop skills for in-demand jobs within the labour market.
Funding for apprentices
Apprentices can apply for student loans and grants from both the provincial and federal governments. Students in pre-employment programs can also apply for loans and grants through Alberta Student Aid. These students cannot receive funding from the Government of Canada.
Training and employment services – Integrated Training Program
The Integrated Training Program offers eligible Albertans competency-based training for skills needed in real-work situations by offering occupation-related skills, work experience and essential skills. Eligible participants are unemployed and under-employed adults in Alberta, who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
British Columbia
B.C. Employer Training Grant
The B.C. Employer Training Grant provides funding to small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires. Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80% of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee.
Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG)
CWRG funds cohort-based skills training that helps people get the skills they need to find and keep a job. Local non-profit organizations, Indigenous and local governments, sector associations, unions and major employers in a single resource community can apply for funding to support occupational skills training
Single Parent Employment Initiative
Single parents receiving income or disability assistance may be eligible for support including up to two years of funded training or paid work experience and coverage of childcare costs during their training or work placement and for the first year of employment.
Services for apprentices and employers
Apprentices and employers may be eligible for financial supports such as grants and tax credits. For example, individuals could receive up to $46,000 in total funding, or $55,700 for an individual with three dependents.
Training tax credit
Employers and apprentices who participate in eligible apprenticeship programs administered through SkilledTradesBC may avail of the training tax credit. More information on types of tax credit:
WorkBC Skills Training for Employment Program
The Skills Training for Employment program meets the needs of vulnerable and under-represented groups by providing skills training and employment supports to participants to help them obtain sustainable employment. It offers programs for young adults, young adults at risk and individuals facing multiple barriers.
- The B.C. Employer Training Grant
- The Labour Market Partnership Programs
- The Trades Training and Apprenticeships
Manitoba
Financial Supports For Apprentices and Employers
This page lists bursaries, awards and tax credits under Apprenticeship Manitoba, Manitoba Public Insurance, Service Canada, Province of Manitoba and Canada Revenue Agency.
Manitoba has previously offered supports through the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant and the Workforce Development Program, neither is currently accepting applications. It is recommended to check back for more information.
New Brunswick
Financial Support – Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
This page provides an overview of financial supports for jobseekers, employers, students, and universities and colleges, including:
- Training and Skills Development (TSD) program: Training grants for individuals who have an Employment Action Plan that has been developed with an employment counsellor
- Training and Employment Support Services (TESS): Employment Services: supports to case managed New-Brunswickers who have a permanent physical, intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, or sensory disability to participate in training and/or employment opportunities.
Labour Force Training
The Labour Force Training program’s objective is to provide funding to eligible businesses and organizations which may assist in the training of existing employees so that they may develop the necessary skills to maintain labour market attachment. The maximum government contribution per employer, per region, per fiscal year is $20,000.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant
Canada NL Job Grant (CNLJG) is currently suspended until further notice, due to a reduction in federal funding. At this time, Employers are encouraged to reach out to the Employment and Training Program Division to discuss other programs and services that target recruitment, retention and skill development.
SkillsPass NL
SkillsPass NL gives business owners, managers, employees and job seekers free, accessible online training sponsored by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers over 35 programs.
Northwest Territories
Canada-Northwest Territories Job Grant
Employers who will train workers for new or better jobs in the Northwest Territories may be eligible for training funding. This includes private sector companies, not-for-profit organizations and designated crown corporations and local governments.
Skills Development Program
This program provides support for eligible individuals to participate in short-term training opportunities for up to 52 weeks, which upgrade or develop essential employability skills. Maximum allowable funding is $26,000.
Tourism Training Fund
Funded training is available for short-term training opportunities for tourism workers to gain or upgrade skills. For individual and business/group applications, the maximum funding per application is $,3000 and $6,000 respectively.
Nova Scotia
Self-Employment Program
Participants who are unemployed and meet requirements of the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) may receive entrepreneurial and financial support to start their own business.
Skills Development Program
This program provides unemployed participants with training support to gain new or additional occupational skills. Participants must meet requirements under the Labour Market Development Agreement.
START program: hiring incentive
The START Program helps connect employers with unemployed Nova Scotians who can fill their job vacancies. For employers, START offers a wage incentive and other types of funding if they hire an unemployed Nova Scotian. For unemployed individuals, START provides a letter that helps them market their skills and the program to potential employers.
Nunavut
Adult Learning and Training Supports (ALTS)
Training programs that are a year or less, and will lead to employment, are eligible under funding guidance. Examples of these programs include apprentice technical training, college foundations, training in office admin and skilled trades.
Qikiqtani Skills and Training for Employment Partnership (Q-STEP)
Q-STEP provides certified and transferrable skills through training programs for Inuit across the Qikiqtani Region. The following training is offered through Q-STEP:
- Work readiness
- Heavy equipment operators
- Mining skills for employment
- Trades apprenticeships
- Mining essential/general skills
Training on the Job
The Training on the Job program in Nunavut provides a wage subsidy to encourage the hiring and training of unemployed or under-skilled workers. Eligible activities involve various forms of training, which should eventually lead to stable employment for trainees.
Ontario
Canada-Ontario Job Grant
Employers may receive direct financial support purchase training for employees, including up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and delivered by the provincial government.
Better Jobs Ontario
Better Jobs Ontario provides skills training for in-demand jobs and financial support. Ontarians can apply for up to $28,000 in financial support for tuition, books, transportation, basic living allowance and other expenses.
Quebec
COUD (Programme de formations de courte durée)
This short-term training program aims to support sectors in need of labour and reorient 1,5000 people to industries like agriculture, aeronautics, the green economy and electric transportation.
Workforce Training Measure
This program offers financial assistance for training to find a job for individuals who are at least 16, have stopped going to school for at least 24 months and whose lack of training presents a significant barrier to getting a job.
Saskatchewan
Education and Training Incentive (ETI)
The ETI offers financial assistance to adult learners with low incomes to help them complete their high school education, participate in workforce and skills training programs and improve employment opportunities, start a career and become more self-sufficient.
Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
The Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (EAPD) program provides funding for a broad range of supports that help Saskatchewan residents with a disability prepare for and make successful transitions into the workforce. This includes supports and services to ensure their successful participation in training or education that is needed to prepare for employment, as well as those needed to obtain and maintain employment.
Financial Supports – Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC)
This webpage outlines financial supports for apprentices including the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Training Allowance (ATA), Women in the Trades initiative and the Saskatchewan Graduate Retention Program (GRP).
Saskatchewan Employment Incentive (SEI)
The Saskatchewan Employment Incentive (SEI) provides working families who have low incomes with a monthly financial benefit, Supplementary Health Benefits, access to discounted bus passes (where available), connections to employment supports through the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training and access to the Saskatchewan Housing Benefit through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.
Training Voucher Program
Eligible participants may access funding for training to re-enter the labour market. This may include fee coverage for tuition, books, supplies and other administrative costs.
Yukon
Staffing UP Program
This program provides funding with the aim of helping employers to find, hire and keep workers; train new or existing workers; develop workplace supports to accommodate staff; enhance their human resource knowledge and practice; get and use labour market information; and connect with other employers to find and keep workers.
Student Training and Employment Program (STEP)
The Student Training and Employment Program (STEP) provides students with a way to earn a wage while gaining work experience in their field of study.
Wayfinder Yukon
Wayfinder is the Yukon’s first-ever training and employment website designed and built specifically for Yukon First Nations people. It provides a list of funding for training as well as various training opportunities.
Working UP program
The Working UP program helps Yukoners build the skills they need to get a job or move ahead in their career – for instance, to improve your reading and writing, finish high school, gain work experience or complete apprenticeship training.
Additional resources
- Northern Alberta Development Council Bursary
- Nova Scotia Employment Programs
- Nunavut Film Funding Programs
- Prince Edward Island Training Services
- WorkBC Skills Training for Employment (STE): Older Workers 55+
- Saskatchewan Job Training and Financial Support Programs
- Student Aid BC: Explore Funding options
