Missed Applying for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)? More Youth Wage Subsidies
One of Canada’s largest wage subsidy initiatives is the federal government’s annual Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, which provides up to 50%-100% of employee’s minimum wages during full-time work from 6 – 16 weeks. This program is extremely popular and exhausts it’s funding each year. What many employers learn a bit too late about this program is that they are often required to apply in December or January with their eligible positions and candidates in mind.
If you’re looking to hire a youth during this season but missed the application window for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, there are still a ton of Canadian federal and provincial wage subsidies you can apply for.
This article will cover some of the top wage subsidy, grant, and tax credit programs that can go towards your labor costs for eligible positions and projects.
Top Youth Wage Subsidies:
IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP) – Canada-Wide
If your business is conducting innovative research and development, you may be eligible to hire young Canadians with post-secondary degrees through the Youth Employment Program (YEP). Graduates may be funded based on a variety of factors including business development, technological advancement, customer service, or administrative efforts. Learn more about what YEP defines as an eligible R&D project.
- Funding Amount: Provides up to $30,000 per graduate (up to two) for a period of 6 to 12 months.
- Applicant Eligibility: Must be an incorporated and financially stable Canadian business with 1–500 employees. Applicants are responsible for finding graduates before applying. Candidates must be between 15 to 30 years old.
Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities – Ontario Only
The Canadian Tooling & Machine Association (CTMA) and Mentor Works offers wage subsidies to eligible employers in advanced manufacturing, tooling, precision machining, and other related sectors for youth hires in these trades. This is a unique wage subsidy program where all applicants can work with Mentor Works professional application writers at no cost to the business, while receiving up to $5,000 in wage subsidies.
- Funding Amount: 50% of the candidates’ wages paid to a maximum of $5,000 per 10-16-week placement.
- Eligible Applicants: Licensed to operate and provide training in Ontario, related to an Ontario job. The program aims to support employers in building a talent pipeline by introducing participants to careers in the precision metalworking sector.
Mitacs Accelerate Program – Canada-Wide
In the Mitacs Accelerate program, small businesses are matched with interns who have a master’s, doctorate, or postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) to help them overcome innovation challenges. Research is conducted and tools, models, technologies, or solutions are developed in support of small businesses.
- Funding Amount: Up to 75% of funds to $15,000 for every business contribution of $7,500 per 4–6-month internship unit.
- Eligible Applicants: Businesses, corporations, and pre-assessed non-profits throughout Canada. All industries and sectors are supported; preference is given to research and development projects in innovation.
Apply for Canadian Wage Subsidies with Mentor Works
Our clients get notified when new wage subsidies are announced that their business may be eligible to receive. Reach out to the professional government funding application writing team at Mentor Works for grant, loan, and tax applications to have us write and apply on behalf of your business.
Never miss a government funding program application window by learning at what points throughout the year should your business be on the lookout for funding application windows.
