Energy Training Program for Students

Energy businesses in Nova Scotia often face a familiar challenge: finding skilled, motivated talent while managing rising labour costs. The Energy Training Program helps address both by making it more affordable to bring postsecondary students or recent graduates onto your team for a meaningful work term. Delivered by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines, this program is designed to strengthen the province’s energy workforce while giving employers practical support to invest in future talent.

Through the program, eligible small and medium-sized businesses in the energy and utilities space can receive a non-repayable wage subsidy covering roughly half to just over half of a student or recent graduate’s hourly wages. Support typically applies to a summer work term lasting about three to four months, with higher levels of assistance available when hiring individuals from underrepresented groups in the energy sector. The program is flexible enough to support co-op placements as well as recent graduates, as long as the work experience is directly related to their field of study and your business operations.

For energy sector employers looking to build capacity, test new roles, or support longer-term recruitment plans, this wage subsidy can significantly reduce the cost of hiring while contributing to workforce development in Nova Scotia. Reviewing the full program details can help you determine how this opportunity fits with your hiring plans.