Hiring young workers can be expensive, especially when training is needed. Youth employment and skills programs in Canada help by covering part of the wages and training costs. These federal programs support thousands of youth aged 15–30 each year through wage subsidies and paid work placements.
This guide explains how youth employment and skills programs work, highlights the main programs for employers, and gives you steps to apply with less hassle.
Youth employment and skills programs are government funding options that help employers hire, train, and keep young workers. Most of this funding goes to employers instead of youth, usually as a wage subsidy or money for training.
Some common rules you’ll see:
Below are the main federal programs that employers use to hire and train young workers.
The Youth Employment and Skills Program is run by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and helps agricultural and agri-food employers.
What it covers
Who can apply
The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy is a larger federal program led by Employment and Social Development Canada.
What it funds
Who can apply
The Youth Take Charge Program helps youth-led projects focused on community and heritage.
Key details
The Youth in Natural Resources program is run by ECO Canada with support from Natural Resources Canada.
Funding focus
Most programs have their own online application, but the process is similar for all.
These programs are for employers. Check:
Using tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly find programs that fit your business and location.
You’ll need:
Programs want to see that the job helps youth gain skills, not just fill a spot.
Most applications ask for:
A key rule: Do not hire the youth before you get approval. If you hire early, those costs won’t count.
If approved, you’ll need to:
Most programs pay you back after you show proof of payment.
Hiring before approval
Wages paid before you sign a funding agreement usually won’t be covered.
Weak training plans
If you only focus on filling a job and not on training, your application may be rejected.
Using too many funding programs at once
You can combine wage subsidies, but total government funding can’t be more than your actual costs.
Missing age eligibility
Youth must be within the program’s age range, usually 15–30.
Q: Who counts as “youth” for these programs?
Most federal programs define youth as people aged 15 to 30.
Q: Are wage subsidies taxable?
Yes. Wage subsidies are usually considered business income and must be reported.
Q: Can I combine youth employment funding with other grants?
Yes, you often can, but total government funding can’t be more than your employment costs.
Q: Does the funding go to youth or employers?
Funding is paid to employers, usually after you pay wages.
Q: How long does approval take?
It depends on the program, but approvals usually take 4–12 weeks.
Remember, GrantHub lists hundreds of youth employment and skills programs across Canada, so you can find the ones that fit your business.
Youth employment and skills programs can lower your hiring risk and help young Canadians get valuable experience. The most important thing is to pick the right program and apply before you hire. GrantHub helps you compare programs, check eligibility, and track deadlines so you don’t miss out on funding.
See also:
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