For first hire
29 programs
for first-hire employer.
Hiring your first employee is the scariest cheque a founder writes. Several federal and provincial programs cover a meaningful share of that first wage if you layer them in the right order. The Canada Job Grant funds training, Student Work Placement and Canada Summer Jobs cover student wages, and provincial wage subsidies fill the gap. Done well, you can recover most of a first hire is cost in year one.
See which apply to my businessWhat you should know
- ·You generally need a CRA business number and the role to be at least part-time (most programs require 30+ hours/week).
- ·Programs cannot duplicate the same wage. Each program funds a different slice: training, student wages, accessibility, equity-deserving hires.
- ·Apply before the hire starts where possible. Many programs do not pay retroactively.
Grants
17Canada Job Grant
Up to $10,000 per employee
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Up to $30,000 per youth hired
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Up to $7,000 per student
BC Employer Training Grant
Up to $10,000 per employee
Canada-Yukon Job Grant
Up to $10,000 per trainee (two-thirds of training cost)
Nunavut Mine Training Fund
Contribution toward community mine training initiatives
Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant
Up to $5,000 per existing employee, up to $10,000 per new hire; $100,000 cap per year
Workforce Training Measure (MFOR) Business Stream
Up to $100,000, covering up to 75% of eligible training expenses
Skills Development Fund - Capital Stream
GROW pathway up to 49% of eligible capital costs
Building Up Manitoba Program (BUMP)
50% cost-share, up to $10,000 per employee and $25,000 for HR strategy, max $100,000
Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI)
Up to 75% of eligible training costs
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Employer Wage Subsidy)
Wage subsidy negotiated with the local delivery agent; program guidance averages about $12,000 in supports per participant
WorkBC Wage Subsidy (Disability Priority Hiring)
$3,600 to $12,000 per hire, covering up to 85% of eligible costs
Alberta Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES)
Funds disability-related workplace supports such as job coaching, assistive technology, and worksite modifications (cost-shared with the employer)
Nova Scotia Workplace Support Program
Covers the cost of approved technical aids, assistive devices, and workplace attendant support for eligible employees
New Brunswick Wage Subsidy for People with Disabilities (Working Together)
Wage subsidy to offset the cost of hiring a job-ready employee with a disability (amount set with the delivery agent)
Quebec Work Integration Contract (Contrat d'intégration au travail)
Wage subsidy plus workstation adaptation and support costs (set by Services Quebec)
Tax Credits
7Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
Up to $2,000 per apprentice per year
PEI Specialized Labour Tax Rebate
17% of eligible salary, up to $25,000
BC Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry Tax Credit
20% of eligible apprentice salaries
Refundable Tax Credit for On-the-Job Training Periods
24% to 50% of eligible training wages for corporations (12% to 25% for individuals)
Manitoba Paid Work Experience Tax Credit
15% to 20% of wages, up to $5,000 per student or apprentice
Co-operative Education Tax Credit
25-30% of wages, up to $3,000 per work placement
BC Training Tax Credit for Employers
20% of wages up to $4,000 basic, plus completion and enhanced amounts up to $6,000
Incentives
5BDC Working Capital Loan
Up to $250,000 with no fixed asset
Graduate to Opportunity (GTO)
25% to 30% of first-year salary, plus 12.5% to 15% in year two
New Brunswick Workforce Expansion Employer Wage Incentive
Partial wage subsidy during the training period
PEI Graduate Mentorship Program (For Employers)
Up to 50% of wages for 52 weeks, max $12.50 per hour
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) Employer Program
$0 cost to employers (federally funded program, roughly $30M to 2027)
Common questions
Can I stack Canada Summer Jobs with the Canada Job Grant?
Yes, but for different costs. CSJ covers the student wage during the summer; CJG covers training for a specific employee. The two cannot fund the same training of the same person.
What about hiring a person with a disability?
The federal Opportunities Fund and several provincial wage subsidies (WorkBC, Alberta DRES, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick) cover part of the wage plus accommodation costs. Stack with Ready, Willing and Able for ongoing onboarding support.
See which apply to your business.
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