Paid Work Experience Tax Credits

Hiring and training new talent can be expensive, especially for Manitoba employers trying to build future-ready teams while managing payroll costs. The Paid Work Experience Tax Credits are designed to ease that burden by helping businesses offset a portion of wages paid to students, recent graduates, and apprentices who are gaining hands-on experience through paid placements. For employers already offering, or considering, structured on-the-job training, this program can make those opportunities significantly more affordable.

Offered through the Government of Manitoba and administered by the Manitoba Tax Assistance Office, the Paid Work Experience Tax Credits provide a refundable tax credit that covers roughly 15 to 25 percent of eligible wages, with support reaching up to about $5,000 per trainee. The program brings together what were previously separate co-op education and apprenticeship credits, making it relevant to a wide range of work-integrated learning arrangements. Small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger employers across Manitoba can benefit, as long as they are providing paid, supervised work experience that helps participants build practical skills.

Because the credit is tied to actual wages paid, it rewards employers who invest directly in developing talent while meeting real operational needs. Businesses interested in reducing training costs and strengthening their workforce pipeline may want to explore how this tax credit fits into their hiring plans, and review the detailed requirements before moving forward.