MiHR Student Work Placement and Green Jobs Programs: How to Apply

MiHR Student Work Placement and Green Jobs Programs: How to Apply

Hiring students or young workers in mining can be expensive, especially for small and mid-sized employers. The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) offers support through two federal wage subsidy programs: the Gearing Up Program (Student Work Placement Program) and the MiHR Green Jobs Program. Both are open now and help fund paid, meaningful work placements across Canada.

These programs are part of the federal Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. Their purpose is to create net new jobs and bring more students and youth into Canada’s mining workforce.

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Understanding the MiHR Gearing Up and Green Jobs Programs

MiHR runs two programs with different goals and eligibility rules. Knowing which one fits your business is the first step.

MiHR Gearing Up Program (Student Work Placement Program – SWPP)

The Gearing Up Program funds post-secondary student placements in mining and mineral exploration.

Who it’s for

• Canadian-owned companies or Canadian subsidiaries
• Employers in mining or mineral exploration (including not-for-profits)
• Businesses offering paid work-integrated learning (WIL) placements in Canada
• Employers creating net new student placements compared to a baseline year

Post-secondary institutions cannot apply directly.

Eligible placements

• Co-op terms
• Internships
• Field placements
• Applied research or industry projects
• On-site or remote roles

Funding amounts

• Up to $5,000 per student placement
• Up to $7,000 per placement for students from underrepresented groups, including:
  • Women in STEM
  • Indigenous students
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Visible minorities
  • Recent immigrants
  • First-year students

Key restrictions

• Placements must be paid
• Funding cannot be combined with other federal wage subsidy programs
• The role must be above your historical student hiring level

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MiHR Green Jobs Program

The MiHR Green Jobs Program supports job-ready youth, not students, in environmentally focused mining roles.

Who it’s for

• Canadian-owned organizations or subsidiaries
• For-profit, not-for-profit, Indigenous, and public-sector organizations
• Employers with payroll, training plans, and supervision in place

Eligible workers

• Youth aged 15–30 at the start of the placement
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees

Eligible roles

• Jobs related to:
  • Clean technology
  • Environmental innovation
  • Emissions reduction
  • Sustainable mining practices

Placements can last up to 12 months and must provide meaningful, supervised work experience.

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Eligibility Criteria

Knowing the eligibility rules is important before you apply. Both MiHR programs have specific requirements for employers and workers.

Employer eligibility

• Must be a Canadian-owned organization or subsidiary
• Must operate in mining, mineral exploration, or environmental sectors
• Must provide paid, supervised placements

Worker eligibility

• Gearing Up: Students must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution
• Green Jobs: Youth aged 15–30, not required to be students

Placement eligibility

• Roles must be net new compared to your baseline year
• Placements must be paid, structured, and supervised
• Green Jobs roles must have an environmental component

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How to Apply for MiHR Student Work Placement and Green Jobs Funding

The application process is similar for both programs and managed directly by MiHR.

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

• Check whether your role is a student WIL placement (Gearing Up) or a youth green job (Green Jobs).
• Make sure the role is paid and net new.

Step 2: Prepare your placement details You will need:

• Job description and duration
• Wage rate and hours
• Training and supervision plan
• Confirmation the role aligns with program goals

Step 3: Apply through MiHR

• Applications are submitted through MiHR’s program portals
• Funding is typically approved before the placement starts

Step 4: Hire and report

• Hire the student or youth
• Submit required payroll and progress reports to receive reimbursement

Many employers use GrantHub to compare wage subsidy programs and manage application timelines.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying after the placement starts
   MiHR funding is not retroactive. Approval must come first.

2. Counting existing student roles as “net new”
   Only increases over your baseline year are eligible.

3. Trying to stack federal subsidies
   The Gearing Up Program cannot be combined with other federal wage subsidies.

4. Vague job descriptions
   Roles must clearly show learning outcomes or environmental benefits, depending on the program.

For more hiring pitfalls, see Common Mistakes Employers Make When Applying for Wage Subsidy Grants.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What counts as a net new student placement under MiHR Gearing Up?
A net new placement is any student role above the number you hired in your baseline year. Replacing an existing position does not qualify.

Q: Can non-profit mining organizations apply?
Yes. Non-profits are eligible under both programs if they operate in mining or mineral exploration.

Q: Are remote placements allowed?
Yes. Both on-site and remote placements are eligible if they are structured and supervised.

Q: Can I use provincial wage subsidies at the same time?
Provincial programs may be allowed, but federal wage subsidies cannot be stacked. Always confirm before applying.

Q: Is the Green Jobs Program only for students?
No. It is for job-ready youth aged 15–30 and does not require post-secondary enrolment.

GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada, including student and youth wage subsidies.

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Next Steps

The MiHR Student Work Placement and Green Jobs Programs can reduce hiring costs while building future talent in mining. The key is choosing the right program and applying before your placement starts. For easy comparison of federal and provincial wage subsidies, GrantHub brings together information so you can focus on hiring with confidence.

See also:

• How Student Work Placement Wage Subsidies Stack With Provincial Hiring Incentives
• Federal vs Provincial Wage Subsidy Programs in Canada: Key Differences