Introduction
Unlock opportunities to grow your workforce with financial support through various funding and grant programs available to Canadian employers. This page provides an overview of key funding sources that facilitate the hiring of students, including details on program eligibility, supported industries, and how to apply.
Funding Sources
Program Overview
Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labor market. The program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.
Key Features
- Target Group: Young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.
- Employer Eligibility: Available to public sector, private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees, and nonprofit organizations.
- Funding: Up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for private and public sector employers; up to 100% for nonprofit organizations.
- Duration: Summer jobs must be between 6 and 16 weeks in duration.
Application Timeline
- Application Opening: Typically opens in December or January each year.
- Application Deadline: Usually by the end of January or early February.
- Notification of Decision: Employers can expect to be notified about the status of their applications by April.
- Project Start Date: Funded projects can begin starting April, with the latest start date usually in May.
Approval Process
The approval process involves several steps:
- Review of Eligibility: Initial screening for the fulfillment of all eligibility criteria.
- Assessment of Applications: Applications are assessed based on program objectives and priorities, such as:
- Providing work experiences relevant to the future labor market prospects of the youth.
- Supporting organizations that provide important community services.
- Consideration for projects that support and protect vulnerable populations.
- Notification: All applicants are notified of the approval or rejection of their proposals and funding allocation.
How to Apply
Employers interested in applying for the Canada Summer Jobs program should prepare by ensuring they meet eligibility criteria and gather necessary documentation. Applications can be submitted online through the Service Canada website when the application period opens. Detailed guidelines and application forms are available on the website.
Program Overview
The SWPP aims to help post-secondary students across Canada get work experience related to their field of study. The program supports partnerships between employers and post-secondary education (PSE) institutions to create quality work placements for students.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Available to all employers offering quality student work placements.
- Student Eligibility: Post-secondary students enrolled in a recognized PSE institution in Canada.
- Funding: Up to 75% of the wage cost for each placement (up to a maximum of $7,500 per placement).
Funding Providers and Serviced Industries
Each SWPP provider targets specific sectors or fields of study, facilitating tailored opportunities for students and matching industry needs.
SWPP Funding Providers
Program Overview
BioTalent Canada is a part of the SWPP that targets the biotechnology and healthcare sectors. It aims to facilitate the job-readiness of students by connecting them with relevant work opportunities. The program enhances students' skills and supports employers in the bio-economy to hire new talent for future recruitment needs.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Available to all employers within the biotechnology or healthcare sectors creating a work-integrated learning opportunity.
- Student Eligibility: Open to students enrolled full-time or part-time at Canadian post-secondary institutions, including undergraduates, Masters, PhD, or post-graduate students. Participants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred and legally entitled to work in Canada.
Funding Details and Timelines
- Subsidy Amount: Up to 50% of the wage cost (maximum of $5,000) and up to 70% (maximum of $7,000) for first-year students and under-represented groups.
- Application Period: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for specific terms, ensuring funding is available throughout the year for placements occurring in that term.
Relevant Industries and Opportunities
The program focuses on the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, providing opportunities for students to work in roles that directly contribute to these industries. This includes but is not limited to:
- Health Biotechnology: Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, therapeutic technologies.
- Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology: Solutions for sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, and clean technologies.
VIU Programs Aligned with BioTalent Canada
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
- Prepares students for technical and research roles across various biotechnology sectors.
- Chemistry
- Equips students with skills in chemical analysis, useful in pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
- Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection
- Relevant for environmental biotechnology focusing on sustainable management.
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Pertinent to biotechnological applications in marine health and environmental sustainability.
Additional Support
BioTalent Canada also offers the Essential Skills Fundamentals and Technical Skills Fundamentals training programs to help participants strengthen their employment prospects upon completing their placements.
Program Overview
The CCAA supports work-integrated learning opportunities within the aviation and aerospace industries. It aims to facilitate partnerships between employers and post-secondary education institutions to create student work placements that prepare students for jobs in these high-demand fields.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Applicable to employers within the aviation and aerospace sectors, including direct operations and suppliers.
- Student Eligibility: Open to students who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or those granted refugee protection, enrolled full-time or part-time in relevant Canadian post-secondary programs. Note, international students are not eligible.
Funding Details and Timelines
- Subsidy Amount: Employers may receive up to 70% of the wage cost for each placement, with a maximum of $5,000 for general placements and $7,000 for placements involving underrepresented groups.
- Application Process: Requires online application submission including job description, proof of student enrollment, and a detailed work/learning plan. There's an emphasis on demonstrating a net increase in the number of student placements from the previous year.
Relevant Industries and Opportunities
Focuses broadly on the aviation and aerospace industries, including:
- Manufacturing and Maintenance: Roles related to the manufacturing and maintenance of aircraft and parts.
- Engineering and Design: Positions in aerospace engineering that involve design, testing, and project management.
VIU Programs Aligned with CCAA
- Bachelor of Science in Physics
- Students learn principles that can be applied in aerospace design and testing.
- Engineering Transfer Program
- Prepares students for further engineering studies that can lead to careers in aerospace engineering.
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Particularly relevant for management or administrative roles within aerospace companies.
Additional Support
The CCAA offers extensive training and certification programs that align with industry standards, helping to upskill participants and ensure that training is relevant to the needs of the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Employers interested in the SWPP through CCAA can manage applications directly via the CCAA, which also assists in creating partnerships with educational institutions to recruit students.
Program Overview
ECO Canada facilitates work-integrated learning opportunities for students by providing wage subsidies to employers in the environmental sector. This program is part of a broader effort to fill skill gaps and prepare students for a career in environmental roles.
Key Features
- Eligibility: Open to students enrolled at Canadian universities or colleges in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art or Math (STEAM), and Business. Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee status.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive wage subsidies that cover 50% of a student's wage up to $5,000 for new placements that are either full or part-time, lasting from 6 to 16 weeks with a minimum of 180 hours.
Relevant Industries
The program focuses on various sectors within the environmental industry, particularly those that are geared towards sustainability and resource management.
VIU Programs Aligned with ECO Canada
Given the focus on environmental and sustainability placements, the following Vancouver Island University (VIU) programs could align well with ECO Canada’s funding:
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science - Prepares students with the necessary skills for environmental assessment, conservation, and resource management.
- Geography - Students learn about physical and human environmental systems, which is applicable to many areas in the environmental sector.
- Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection - Specifically designed to equip students for careers in managing and protecting natural resources.
Additional Support
ECO Canada also offers various training and professional development opportunities to help students and professionals grow their careers in the environmental sector.
For employers interested in this program, ECO Canada supports the process from job posting to filling the placement, providing substantial support and resources to ensure successful integration of students into meaningful work roles.
Program Overview
Empowering Futures is EHRC's student work placement initiative tailored specifically for the electricity industry. The program aims to provide students with practical experience through work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities that complement their academic studies.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Companies within the electricity sector, including generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as related support services and manufacturing.
- Student Eligibility: Post-secondary students enrolled in relevant programs, who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee protection.
- Funding Details: Offers financial incentives of up to $7,000 per placement to employers to help cover wages for students.
Relevant Industries
This program is specifically designed for the electricity industry, encompassing areas such as:
- Energy Generation and Transmission
- Electrical Engineering
- Renewable Energy and Sustainability
VIU Programs Aligned with EHRC
Several programs at Vancouver Island University (VIU) could effectively align with the Empowering Futures program:
- Electrical Engineering Technology - Students from this program are well-suited for placements focusing on the technical aspects of electricity generation and distribution.
- Bachelor of Science in Physics - Applicable for students interested in energy systems and dynamics within the electricity sector.
- Resource Management and Environmental Studies - Relevant for roles focusing on the sustainability and environmental impact assessments within the electricity industry.
Additional Support
EHRC also offers professional development opportunities to all participants, ensuring that students not only gain technical skills but also enhance their professional competencies relevant to the industry.
For employers interested in participating or students seeking placements within the electricity sector, EHRC provides comprehensive support throughout the application and placement process.
Program Overview
The WILWorks Program, offered by the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC), supports Canadian manufacturers by providing subsidies through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). This initiative aims to enhance student employability in the manufacturing sector by promoting more student work positions.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Available to Canadian manufacturers interested in enhancing their workforce with post-secondary students.
- Student Eligibility: Targets post-secondary students seeking work-integrated learning opportunities within the manufacturing sector.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive up to $7,000 per placement to support the hiring of students.
Relevant Industries
The focus is primarily on the manufacturing sector, covering a broad range of manufacturing activities from production to advanced manufacturing technologies.
VIU Programs Aligned with EMC
Several programs at Vancouver Island University (VIU) are well-suited for integration with the WILWorks Program:
- Engineering Transfer Diploma - This program is designed for students planning to transfer to an engineering degree program. It covers foundational engineering courses that are critical in manufacturing and other engineering-related industries.
- Bachelor of Business Administration - While not directly engineering, this program is relevant for those looking into the management side of manufacturing operations.
- Welding Certificate - This program provides practical skills and technical knowledge in welding, which is highly applicable to manufacturing jobs that involve metal fabrication.
Additional Support
EMC provides comprehensive support throughout the application process and offers additional resources like training and professional development to enhance the placement experience.
For manufacturers interested in participating or students seeking placements in the manufacturing sector, EMC facilitates the application process and ensures a beneficial experience for both parties.
Program Overview
The WIL Digital program, offered by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), provides wage subsidies to Canadian employers to create work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities within the information and communications technology sectors. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the digital skills of post-secondary students and supporting employers in the growing digital economy.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Open to registered businesses or not-for-profit organizations in Canada that can offer a meaningful work-integrated learning placement in the ICT sector.
- Student Eligibility: Targets post-secondary students looking to gain experience in information technology and communications roles.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive up to 50% of a student’s salary (maximum of $5,000) or up to 70% (maximum of $7,000) for underrepresented groups including women in STEM, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers to Canada, and first-year students.
Relevant Industries
The program supports a broad range of industries within the ICT sector, including software development, telecommunications, digital media, and information technology services.
VIU Programs Aligned with ICTC
Given the focus on ICT and digital skills, the following Vancouver Island University (VIU) programs are well-matched with the ICTC WIL Digital program:
- Computer Science - Students from this program are ideal candidates for roles in software development, system analysis, and IT project management.
- Information Technology and Applied Systems - This program prepares students for technical support and IT services roles, aligning well with the practical experience opportunities offered by WIL Digital.
- Digital Media Studies - Students in this field can benefit from placements in digital content creation, media communication, and user interface design.
Additional Support
ICTC also provides e-learning courses to enhance the digital skills of students participating in WIL placements, ensuring they gain both practical experience and theoretical knowledge during their work term.
Program Overview
Magnet’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) facilitates work-integrated learning (WIL) by providing wage subsidies to Canadian employers to hire post-secondary students. This initiative helps students gain relevant work experience and assists employers in building a skilled workforce.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Open to all Canadian businesses and not-for-profit organizations, except for governmental entities, financial institutions, and post-secondary institutions.
- Student Eligibility: Available to domestic students enrolled in recognized Canadian post-secondary institutions. Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee protection.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive a subsidy covering 50% of a student’s wages up to $5,000 or 70% up to $7,000 for underrepresented groups such as women in STEM, Indigenous students, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers, and first-year students.
Relevant Industries
This program supports a wide range of industries, aiming to integrate students into environments where digital skills are crucial, reflecting the growing impact of technology across all sectors.
VIU Programs Aligned with Magnet
Several programs at Vancouver Island University (VIU) align well with the objectives of Magnet’s SWPP, particularly those that prepare students for roles in digital and technological fields:
- Computer Science - For roles in software development, cybersecurity, and systems analysis.
- Information Technology and Applied Systems - Prepares students for technical support and network administration.
- Digital Media Studies - Suitable for placements in digital content development, media production, and user experience design.
Additional Support
Magnet also offers access to the Outcome Campus Connect platform, facilitating the posting of job opportunities to a wide network of post-secondary institutions, ensuring a broad reach to potential student hires.
Program Overview
The Gearing Up program by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) offers wage subsidies to employers in the mining sector to facilitate work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities. This program is designed to align post-secondary student skills with the needs of the mining industry through various forms of work placements.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Open to Canadian mining employers committed to providing a substantive learning experience. This excludes government bodies, financial institutions, and post-secondary institutions.
- Student Eligibility: Available to students enrolled in recognized Canadian post-secondary institutions who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee protection.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive up to $7,000 in wage subsidies for each new placement, with a focus on creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Relevant Industries
This program specifically targets the mining sector, including exploration, extraction, and processing of mineral resources.
VIU Programs Aligned with MiHR
Relevant Vancouver Island University (VIU) programs that align with MiHR’s objectives include:
- Bachelor of Science in Geology - Students from this program are equipped for roles in mineral exploration and environmental geoscience, relevant to the mining sector.
- Resource Management Officer Technology - This program prepares students for roles in managing and protecting natural resources, applicable to environmental and sustainability practices within mining.
- Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection - Focuses on conservation and resource management, preparing students for environmental stewardship roles in mining.
Additional Support
MiHR also supports various initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the mining sector. They offer resources and training for organizations to develop equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplaces.
Program Overview
TECHNATION's Career Ready Program is part of the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), designed to help businesses finance the hiring of students for work-term placements. This initiative supports the development of tech talent by creating rewarding opportunities for students to apply their learning in real-world settings.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Canadian businesses and non-profits outside of the public sector, large financial organizations, and post-secondary institutions can participate.
- Student Eligibility: Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee protection who are registered in a Canadian post-secondary institution. It is important to note that international students are not eligible.
- Funding Details: The subsidy covers 50% of a student's wages up to $5,000, with an increased subsidy of 70% up to $7,000 for hiring students from underrepresented groups such as women in STEM, Indigenous students, and persons with disabilities.
Relevant Industries
The program targets high-growth tech sectors, including:
- Cybersecurity
- AI/IoT/Machine Learning
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Digital Technology
- Agri-Tech
- Clean Tech
- Health Tech
VIU Programs Aligned with TECHNATION
Several programs at Vancouver Island University (VIU) align well with the TECHNATION Career Ready Program, particularly those that provide a tech-immersive educational experience:
- Computer Science - Prepares students for software development, IT support, and other tech-focused roles.
- Information Technology and Applied Systems - Suitable for students aiming for technical support and network administration positions.
- Digital Media Studies - Ideal for students interested in digital marketing, content creation, and media production.
Additional Support
TECHNATION also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its application and review processes, ensuring that opportunities are accessible across various regions and communities.
Program Overview
Propel, managed by Tourism HR Canada, is a Student Work Placement Program that offers wage subsidies to employers in the tourism sector to facilitate paid, hands-on learning opportunities for post-secondary students. The program aims to enhance students' work-ready skills and help them secure meaningful employment upon graduation.
Key Features
- Employer Eligibility: Canadian tourism employers are eligible to participate in the program.
- Student Eligibility: Post-secondary students from any discipline interested in pursuing a career in the tourism sector.
- Funding Details: Employers can receive wage subsidies for each student placement, with the aim of easing the financial burden of hiring new talent.
Relevant Industries
This program is specifically designed for the tourism sector, including hospitality, travel, and other related industries.
VIU Programs Aligned with Tourism HR Canada
Relevant programs at Vancouver Island University that could benefit from the Propel program include:
- Bachelor of Hospitality Management - Students from this program can gain practical experience in hospitality operations and management.
- Recreation and Tourism Management - Suitable for students looking to build careers in recreational or tourism management roles.
- Culinary Arts - Students in this program can apply their culinary skills in real-world kitchen environments, enhancing their readiness for the workforce.
Additional Support
The Propel program also provides educational sessions and resources to both employers and students to maximize the benefits of their participation in work placements.
Employers of WIL Students
All host organizations participating in work-integrated learning (WIL), such as local employers, non-profit associations, community partners, as well as small & medium-sized enterprises are vital in shaping the workforce of the future. As an integral part in the development of soon-to-be graduates with workplace-ready skills, employers create the employees they need and students learn the skills required to meet industry expectations.
Work-Integrated Learning students bring fresh and creative ideas, new ways of thinking, and a keen interest to excel and contribute to regional organizations, like yours, in meaningful and practical ways.
So, in short, through work-integrated learning, employers win, students win, and Vancouver Island wins. Consider hiring a student today and view the list of list resources below to aid you before and during this process.
Funding Options
The B.C. Employer Training Grant provides funding to small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires.
The intent of this program is to help British Columbians access the skills training required to adapt to the labour market’s changing job requirements, while also encouraging employer involvement in skills training.
The Employer Training Grant helps employers pay for training, which in turn helps employees experience increased job security or move into better jobs.
Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80 per cent of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.
This program is facilitated through WorkBC.
The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is an initiative to increase the job-readiness of students registered in STEM, healthcare, business, and all other programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions.
The program gives employers the freedom to:
- Gain access to funds to hire students
- Leverage a pool of workers eager to enhance their skills
- Develop new talent for future recruitment needs
CAHRC’s AgriTalent program supports the development of connections between post-secondary students, employers in agriculture and post-secondary institutions and contributes towards preparing a job-ready workforce for the Canadian agriculture industry. As part of this program, subsidized Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities connect employers with post-secondary students to ensure higher participation by post-secondary students within the industry with special focus on including under-represented and equity-seeking groups.
Work Integrated Learning is an important component in attracting youth to the Canadian agriculture industry. CAHRC’s Growing Opportunities Student Wage Subsidy Program empowers employers to hire post-secondary students as part of the work-integrated learning components of their academic courses. The Program also presents activities such as webinars, networking sessions, business case competitions to engage students and post-secondary institutions with the industry and improve their job readiness.
This funding is part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help employers offer high-quality work opportunities to post-secondary students.
The CMPA is an inclusive organization that is committed to achieving greater diversity and representation from equity-seeking and sovereignty-seeking groups, including, but not limited to, Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, persons from the broad spectrum of sexes, gender expressions and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from equity-seeking and sovereignty-seeking groups, or persons with intersectional identities.
Mentee eligibility
- Must be a post-secondary student enrolled in an accredited educational institution
- Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person on whom refugee status has been conferred
- Must be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations
- Cannot be an employee or family member of the mentor company
Mentor company eligibility
- Must be a member of the CMPA
- Must be co-applying with a mentee candidate. The CMPA will, on a case-by-case basis, endeavor to pair mentor companies with suitable candidates. This does not guarantee that an application will be successful given the limited number of spots available
- Must contribute toward the mentee stipend as described above
- A mentor applicant cannot be an employer or family member of the mentee with whom they are submitting a joint application
This funding is part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help employers offer high-quality work opportunities to post-secondary students.
Propel offers registered Canadian businesses, startups, and not-for-profits related to the tourism and hospitality sector a subsidy on each qualifying student’s wages.
The wage subsidy is available for employers who hire students enrolled at a recognized post-secondary institution for a paid position to fulfil the co-op or internship component of their program. The wage subsidy can be accessed by businesses from all facets of the visitor economy: accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services.
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.
The application period typically runs from early January to early February.
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) created the Career Launcher program in 2015 to help transition highly skilled students and grads to future-ready employment. Over the past few years, Career Launcher has branched out to include additional offerings and is now a platform for a range of CICan’s programs.
Their programs provide wage subsidies and hiring incentives to help address labour shortages, strengthen industries, and improve equity and diversity in the workplace. They help job seekers access meaningful employment and free training opportunities to kickstart their careers.
The Internship Programs help to strengthen specific sectors and encourage employers to hire students and grads by providing wage subsidies. These jobs ensure tomorrow’s workforce have the skills needed in Canada’s ever-evolving economy. Employers in clean tech, digital tech, natural resources, as well as those that support Canada’s Sustainable Development Goal efforts can benefit from this program.
The CEWIL iHub will operate as a centre of expertise that provides grant-based funding to enable and promote curricular work-integrated learning (WIL) focusing primarily on four types of WIL:
- applied research/industry projects
- entrepreneurial WIL
- field placements
- service-learning WIL
The iHub supports the advancement of, and innovation in, these forms of WIL, extends access to WIL, and ensures WIL projects are delivered with appropriate quality and learning standards for students.
Post-secondary students throughout Canada have access to new, innovative work-integrated learning opportunities thanks to Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada and funding from the Government of Canada.
This funding is part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help employers offer high-quality work opportunities to post-secondary students.
BC Tech’s Internship program provides skilled individuals with exciting internship experiences at technology companies and in tech roles at non-tech companies across the Province, while providing valuable subsidies to employers to help grow and scale your team!
BC Tech’s Internship Program specifically aims to help under-represented individuals gain real world experience working in the tech sector through a paid internship.
Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) connects underemployed post-secondary graduates with small businesses and not-for-profit organizations where they can gain meaningful work experience to help them transition to career-oriented employment.
The program supports delivery organizations that have a strong network of small to medium-sized businesses (under 500 employees) and not-for-profit organizations that can create employment opportunities to help youth build the digital skills needed for the digital economy. The opportunities should help prepare youth to adapt to the major changes expected in tomorrow’s workplace, including in emerging areas where the jobs may not yet exist, such as those related to cybersecurity, the automation of knowledge tasks, big data and artificial intelligence, among others.
ECO Canada's Co-op program partners with post-secondary institutions and aims to help students find work placements within their field of study.
Eligible employers can receive 50% wage coverage up to $5,000 of a student’s salary for a placement in a new full or part-time 6 to 16 week position with a minimum of 180 hours.
This funding is part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help employers offer high-quality work opportunities to post-secondary students.
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, a preferred partner with the Government of Canada, delivers the Student Work Placement Program subsidy to Canada's manufacturing and related sectors.
The WILWorks Student Work Placement Program is designed to incentivize employers to offer more student positions than they did before leveraging funding.
The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program is part of the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.
Projects under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program allow youth to learn about career options and earn an income that can contribute to a university or college education.
Successful proposals:
- include plans to offer wage subsidies to private sector and non-profit employers so they can hire eligible First Nations and Inuit youth
- help First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students find summer employment and prepare for entry into the labour market
- enable First Nations and Inuit youth to earn wages
The proposals will support work experience opportunities for First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students between May 1 and the beginning of the student's fall academic term.
Proposals are accepted for each fiscal year.
Funding recipients will determine the wage rate for participants. It must be at or above the applicable provincial or territorial minimum wage.
This funding is part of the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help employers offer high-quality work opportunities to post-secondary students.
The Program offers Employment Counselling, Job Entry Skills, Certificate Training, Paid Work Experience, Mentoring and Post Job Placement Support to eligible youth 16-29 years of age. Employers that hire and train eligible youth and provide full time sustainable employment are eligible for a negotiated Wage Subsidy incentive.
WIL Digital is an innovative work placement program that benefits both employers and students. WIL Digital helps employers grow their businesses by providing a wage subsidy to hire post-secondary students while students gain meaningful work experience and on-the-job learning. WIL Digital is funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). ICTC is among the first organizations to deliver this program.
In addition to work-integrated learning, ICTC also offers access to exclusive e-learning courses. Through taking these courses WIL Digital students develop foundational technology, business, and entrepreneurship skills.
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) delivers this program under the federal government's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to help young Canadians get career information, develop skills, find good jobs, and stay employed. In addition to bringing new ideas to your organization, your participation also helps highly skilled young people transition into today's rapidly changing labour market.
How can a young worker help my business?
A student or young graduate hired through this program can work on business, technical, or technology-related projects to help you:
- advance research and development, engineering and multimedia activities
- develop new products and processes
- conduct market analyses for new technology-based products
- support business development related to science and technology activities
- improve customer services
The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) Powered by Magnet brings together employers, students, and post-secondary school stakeholders to create quality work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities.
The program provides employers with wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students for paid work experiences. Students in turn benefit with quality work experience so they can secure employment in their chosen fields of study.
Gearing Up drives systemic change by aligning post-secondary student skills training with mining industry requirements through employer delivery of work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities.
The program is creating over 2,000 new WIL opportunities, with wage subsidies up to $7,000 available to employers who offer work experience, co-op placements, internships, field placements or applied projects.
WIL opportunities better position post-secondary students to secure employment in their field of study. While Gearing Up is open to all eligible students, the program also encourages participation by underrepresented groups such as women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, first-year students and members of visible minority groups.
Mitacs is a nonprofit national research organization that, in partnerships with Canadian academia, private industry and government, operates research and training programs in fields related to industrial and social innovation.
Learn more about funding through the MITACS Accelerate Program
Are you an employer hiring post-secondary students on work-integrated learning (WIL) placements, such as cooperative education and internships? If so, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy of up to $7,000 per student!
The Talent Opportunities Program (TOP) is an initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce designed to help employers located anywhere in Canada hire college and university students on WIL placements. Employers hiring eligible students may receive a wage subsidy up to 50% of the wages (to a maximum of $5,000) for each ‘net new’ placement or 70% of the wages (to a maximum of $7,000) for each ‘net new’ placement for the following under-represented groups: Indigenous people, person with disabilities, newcomer to Canada, first year student, visible minority and/or women in STEM. Please note that there is a limited pool of funding to support subsidies at the 70% level for under-represented groups. Should funding be exhausted, your application is still eligible for a subsidy at the 50% level.
Placements must be ‘net new’ to qualify for funding. Net new is determined by subtracting the number of students hired by an employer in the fiscal year prior to first receiving SWPP funding (through TOP or another SWPP delivery partner), also known as the baseline number of students hired, from the number of students the employer is intending to hire in the current fiscal year (including those already hired).
Are you looking for a student who can help your organization advance climate change solutions? Apply for a PICS internship.
These annual awards support hiring a university student at the workplaces such as provincial government offices, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private companies, Indigenous communities, and Crown corporations pursuing climate change mitigation and adaptation research, planning or implementation. Students gain vital experience and exposure in a competitive growth job market while helping our solution seeker partners advance solutions.
PICS will provide $12,000 to BC governments and BC-based non-governmental agencies, Indigenous communities, private companies, and Crown corporations to hire a student intern for a minimum of 13 weeks, or an alternative arrangement that distributes an equivalent number of total hours. Successful applicants may top up this contribution to provide an appropriate wage for the student’s level of education and experience.
This project offers a 50% wage match, with up to $6,000 CAD in reimbursements, to employers hiring youth aged 15-30 into Green Jobs. A Green Job is one that supports nature-based solutions for a more sustainable planet. Green jobs are typically involved in, but not limited to, jobs in the forest sector, parks, conservation, natural resource management, environmental education, sustainable food systems, climate change, carbon sequestration, species maintenance and recovery, water quality and quantity, and more.
The Science & Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Green Jobs provides funding to eligible employers across Canada to hire, train, and mentor youth in the natural resources sector, including in energy, forestry, mining, earth science, and clean technology.
Eligibility requirements for employers
- Organizations in the natural resources sector who can offer youth full-time (min. 30 hours/week, some exceptions may apply) work experience for up-to-12 months
- Legal entities incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations
- Indigenous organizations and groups
- Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies
In partnership with Employer Delivery Partners, the Student Work Placement Program gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), TECHNATION’s wage subsidy program, Career Ready supports businesses by financing their decision to hire a student for a work-term placement. This in turn creates a rewarding opportunity for the student to apply their learning in real-world settings and puts them on a path to a bright career.
The program provides 50% (to a maximum of $5000.00) of a student’s pay in wage subsidies to employers.
An increased subsidy of 70% (to a maximum of $7000.00) is awarded to employers hiring students from under-represented groups:
- Women studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM)
- Indigenous students
- Visible minorities
- New Canadians (within 5 years)
- Persons with disabilities
- Students in their first year of study
To learn more or apply for funding, please visit their website.
This program works to increase the job readiness of students registered in post-secondary programs. Employers can take advantage of a wage subsidy up to a maximum of 70%, up to $7,000 for every student work placement provided. This not only reduces current overhead costs of hiring and training new talent but builds your talent pool for the future with experienced candidates. The work placements also help highlight the variety of opportunities available within your company to soon to be graduates who are actively looking for post-graduate employment opportunities.
To learn more or apply for funding, please visit their website.
This program provides a 50-70% wage subsidy (capped at $7,000), per student per term. Employers are required to pay Interns a minimum wage of $15.00/hour or higher via payroll. This funding subsidizes both hourly wages. Half of your allowable subsidy is paid within six weeks of your intern's start date, and the remainder is paid upon completion of the placement.
The WorkBC Wage Subsidy program covers a part of employee wages so employers can hire job seekers and provide work opportunities. Both unemployed individuals and employers in B.C. can benefit from WorkBC Wage Subsidy.
Wage subsidy offers employers opportunities to
- Cover a portion of wages for employees
- Re-hire laid off employees
- Hire new employees
- Fill various hiring needs
- Support existing operations or expansion
- Reduce work-related barriers for an employee with disabilities
Young Canada Works (YCW) offers eligible employers wage subsidies and access to a pool of talented youth with innovative ideas and competitive skills. Subsidies to eligible employers enable the creation of about 2,300 job opportunities per year in the fields of heritage, arts, culture and official languages.
How to Create a Winning Job Posting
1. Include a clear job title.
Most job seekers search for posted jobs by job title—choose a title that reflects the position (e.g., “summer research assistant” is more clear than “summer student”).
2. Identify the essential qualifications and skills, and those that are important.
Great candidates may avoid applying to a job if they don’t have every qualification, so be specific about what’s required and what would be an asset. This may include degree requirements/certifications, work experience, software knowledge, etc.
3. Be clear about what the role entails, why it’s important, and how it fits within the larger organization.
Provide specific details of what is expected of someone in the posted role (if there’s someone in the position currently, check in with this person for an update on the current responsibilities as the role may have changed since the last time it was posted). How does the role fit within the organization? How much responsibility is involved and what is the reporting structure? Remember, what seems obvious to you may not be evident to the applicant.
4. Describe your workplace culture.
Include information about the organizational culture so that candidates get a sense of what your organization is like beyond the posted position.
Is your organization entrepreneurial, with flexible work hours, dress code and time off? Are your work hours structured? What are the expectations for innovation, support and learning?
5. Describe the type of work style that you’re looking for.
What type of personality will fit well within your organization? Do you have staff members who are interested in changing all the time, or staff members who follow protocol well?
6. Be direct.
Avoid using workplace or local jargon— This is your chance to be descriptive and clear.
7. Point out what makes your organization and industry interesting.
Is your organization growing? Is the industry changing? Sell the positives of your organization, industry and this position to attract candidates who are excited about contributing their skill set and energy.
8. Address salary expectations and other benefits.
It may be helpful to list a salary range or explain that salary will depend on experience. This will help candidates determine if the remuneration fits with their budget constraints. Listing additional benefits such as training or transportation can also help your posting stand out.
9. List contact information.
Include details on how applicants should submit their applications, and to whom they should address their applications.
10. Include the following information, if appropriate:
Job location, whether the role is full-time, permanent or temporary, and an outline of the recruitment process.
11. For co-op positions, list the competencies that you’re looking for.
If you’re posting a co-op position, consider including the core, program-specific, intercultural and professional competencies that students can expect to develop on the work term.
12. For co-op positions, ask for feedback.
If you’re posting a co-op position and have a current co-op student in your workplace, ask this student to contribute feedback. He or she may be able to provide insight on what would attract another student to the role.
Credit: ACE WIL BC / UVic
Webinars for Employers
Discover funding options available to businesses looking to hire students. These funding options are available across Canada
Increasing diversity brings in new ideas and varying perspectives. Learn how to successfully manage your team when welcoming in international students and diverse talent.
In BC, various options exist that are designed to help you and your business fund student talent. This webinar cover a few of these options. Learn about funding options provided to you and your business.
Learn about funding options provided to you and your business
Successfully planning in advance and onboarding, are essential when hiring a student employee, regardless of your budget.
Onboarding is a process that sets student employees up for success.
Additional Funding Information
It’s not always easy to find the resources to hire students, so we’re here to help. The following opportunities support employers with wage subsidy and grant programs to reduce the financial burden of hiring.
Additionally, please explore funding opportunities offered by InnovateBC and by NewVenturesBC
Experience Hub
Visit our campus career portal to see events or login and post a job