Grants for Hiring Recent Graduates: Youth Jobs Initiative

The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is a highly sought-after wage subsidy program available to businesses and non-profits across Canada. The program covers a portion of co-op, recent graduate, and youth hiring costs, providing up to 50% of minimum wage for private/public sector employers and up to 100% of minimum wage for non-profit applicants. The program aims to help students develop their skills and knowledge through funded placements, preparing them for employment.

As of December 2023, the CSJ program is now open for applications until January 10, 2024. This funding snapshot highlights the key aspects of the program, including eligibility requirements, how to apply, and frequently asked questions. The program is designed to support businesses and non-profits in various industries, including science, technology, engineering, and social development, among others.

Key Takeaways

• The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is a popular wage subsidy program that helps cover a portion of co-op, recent graduate, and youth hiring costs.
• The program is available to businesses and non-profits across Canada and provides up to 50% of minimum wage for private/public sector employers and up to 100% of minimum wage for non-profit applicants.
• The program aims to help students develop their skills and knowledge through funded placements, preparing them for employment.

Funding Snapshot: Canada Summer Jobs

Amount of Funding

The Canada Summer Jobs program provides wage subsidies to employers to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. The amount of funding eligible businesses can receive for each new hire is limited by the type of organization applying for funding. A maximum of 40 work hours per week can qualify for funding. Additional funding is provided to non-profit organizations to reduce their costs. The amount of funding provided will be determined based on your application and organizational structure:

• Covers up to 50% of minimum wage for youth hired by private/public sector employers; OR
• Covers up to 100% of minimum wage for youth hired by non-profit applicants, plus Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCS).

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To ensure the CSJ program is offering financial support to businesses that will foster a healthy learning environment for youth hires, the following eligibility restrictions must be met for your business to receive funding:

• Employer must have less than 50 employees;
• Candidate must be 15–30 years of age and a permanent Canadian resident, citizen, or refugee; and
• Positions must be full-time (30–40 hours/week) for at least 6 weeks in duration, with the average funding in previous years lasting 8 weeks at approximately 35 hours/week.

Eligible Hires and Positions

The CSJ program requires that new hires are between the ages of 15–30 and work a minimum of 30–40 hours a week. This program does not require candidates to be selected when applying for funding. Only an eligible position is required for the application. Eligible activities for this stream of funding include employers who are:

• Providing relevant work experience and mentorship for youth ages 15–30;
• Providing wages above minimum wage;
• Hiring a priority student; or
• Addressing local priorities.

National Priorities this year include:

• Opportunities for youth with disabilities/organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities;
• Opportunities for youth underrepresented in the labor market (Black and racialized youth, Indigenous youth, LGBTQ2+ youth);
• Opportunities in rural, remote, or official language minority communities;
• Skilled trades opportunities; and
• Opportunities related to sustainability.

You do not need a candidate to apply; you have until your position’s proposed start date to find an eligible candidate.

Timelines for Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program is now open for applications until January 10, 2024. Given the popularity of this program, and the short application window, Canadian businesses will want to keep the previous 2022 application deadlines in mind, to know what to expect with the current intake. The earliest job start date is April 22, 2024. The latest job start date is July 22, 2024. The latest job end date is August 31, 2024. The latest date to submit a payment claim is 30 days following the completion of the last CSJ-funded work placement. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications electronically on the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various ESDC funding opportunities in a secure web environment.

Apply for the Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy

The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) wage subsidies program is designed to provide quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. The program provides wage subsidies to employers who create summer jobs for full-time students. The latest job start date is July 22, 2024, and the latest job end date is August 31, 2024. The recruitment process is the responsibility of the employer, and they must select the most suitable candidate from the pool of applicants.

Businesses that are interested in applying for the CSJ program should subscribe to the weekly funding newsletter to be notified when the program opens. The program operates on a tight deadline and receives a large number of applications during its intake period. To increase their chances of getting approved for funding and eliminate an estimated 95% of the time required to apply for funding, businesses should speak with a member of the Mentor Works team of Canadian government grant writing professionals. They can be reached by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-888-599-3111.

Once a business has been approved for funding, they will need to find and select a candidate themselves. For best practices on scouting and recruiting the best employee available, businesses can get access to the free Recruiting Top Talent slide deck. The deck provides useful tips and strategies for finding and selecting the most suitable candidate for the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply for the Canada Summer Jobs Program?

To apply for the Canada Summer Jobs Program, recent graduates can visit the Government of Canada's website and create an account. Once they have created an account, they can submit their application online.

Eligibility Requirements for the Canada Summer Jobs Grant

To be eligible for the Canada Summer Jobs Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 15 and 30 years old at the start of employment
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Meet the specific requirements of the job they are applying for
• Not receive Employment Insurance during the time of employment

Application Deadline for Canada Summer Jobs 2023

The application deadline for Canada Summer Jobs 2023 is February 25, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline to ensure they have enough time to complete the application process.

Funding Available Through Internship Grants in Canada

Internship grants in Canada offer funding to employers who hire recent graduates for internships. The funding can cover up to 50% of the intern's wages to a maximum of $5,000. To be eligible for the grant, the intern must be a recent graduate of a post-secondary institution and the internship must be related to their field of study.

How Do Hiring Grants in Ontario Support Employers?

Hiring grants in Ontario support employers by providing them with funding to hire recent graduates. The funding can cover up to 50% of the employee's wages to a maximum of $10,000. To be eligible for the grant, the employee must be a recent graduate of a post-secondary institution and the job must be related to their field of study.

Details of the Student Wage Subsidy Program in Canada for 2023

The Student Wage Subsidy Program in Canada for 2023 offers funding to employers who hire post-secondary students. The funding can cover up to 50% of the student's wages to a maximum of $5,000. To be eligible for the program, the student must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution and the job must be related to their field of study.