Youth Employment and Skills Strategy – Funding programs
The Strategy is designed to support diverse youth (aged 15 to 30) become job-ready through work experience, training, skills development and wraparound
The Strategy is designed to support diverse youth (aged 15 to 30) become job-ready through work experience, training, skills development and wraparound
The IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP) was designed to assist funding of hiring young Canadian post-secondary graduates. Graduate can be applied to most areas from business development to technical to customer service/administration. Incorporated and financially stable Canadian business with 1-500 employees; must be responsible for finding graduates before applying. This program focuses on affording recent post-secondary graduates the opportunity to work on technical opportunities in the firm and on non-technical but technology related projects such as: Research and Development, Market analysis for new technology-based products, Business development related to science and technology activities, Multi-media, Improvement of customer services, and Engineering. ### Apply for This Funding Program. This program focuses on affording recent post-secondary graduates the opportunity to work on technical opportunities in the firm and on non-technical but technology related projects such as:. We provide an average 95% time savings to our clients, compared to businesses that apply for funding in-house.
The Government of Canada is investing up to $27 million in the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) to help young Canadians gain hands-on
The Canada Summer Jobs program (CSJ) provides youth (aged 15 to 30) with opportunities to develop and improve their skills through quality jobs over the summer with employers from not-for-profit organizations and the public sector, as well as private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program, the Future Skills Centre invests in programs that support youth facing barriers, including NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth, through mentorship, career exploration, and work-integrated learning. Together, these partners deliver funding programs to provide youth in Canada aged 15 to 30, especially those facing barriers to employment, with opportunities to receive employment supports, gain work experience and develop the skills needed to find and keep quality jobs.In addition to ESDC’s CSJ and the YESS Program the following programs and are also part of the YESS.
Employment and Social Development Canada. As youth across Canada are working towards their future in the workforce, the Government of Canada is supporting their next steps by building more pathways to rewarding careers and skills development. From managing the cost of studying and training, to securing a first job, to gaining meaningful work experience related to their field of study, this will empower them with better careers and a more affordable life. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, highlighted that the Government of Canada is creating175,000 jobs and skills building opportunities for youth as well as providing education and training related actions that will improve youth employment across Canada. The Government of Canada also invested in the Future Skills Centre and its work to support programs that provide mentorship, career exploration, and work-integrated learning to youth facing barriers to employment.
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers.
## Launching new training projects for people facing barriers to employment. Employment services launching in 16 more B.C. communities. * *The training projects support the Look West Strategy, helping as many as 329 participants access better jobs and connect with opportunities in growing sectors, such as construction, social services, trades, education support, health administration, transportation and facility maintenance*. The Province, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is providing more than $6 million to support 15 training projects delivered by community organizations and employers throughout the province. “We want people to have the support they need to find in-demand jobs and build stronger futures for themselves and their families,” said Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Participants receive a combination of classroom training, hands-on work experience and followup support to build their confidence, improve their employment skills and prepare for jobs in sectors such as construction, social services, trades, education support, health administration, transportation and facility maintenance.
**This program is currently between intakes.** Periodic calls for proposals — not continuous intake. Employment and Social Development Canada. # Youth Employment and Skills Program. (As of March 2026, verified against Employment and Social Development Canada program guidelines). Applications are accepted **Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026**. **Youth Employment and Skills Program** provides up to **Up to $25,000** employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs. Updated **March 2026** · Verified against Employment and Social Development Canada guidelines. * Applying as an intermediary organization (non-profit, community agency, Indigenous organization) with experience delivering youth employment programming — individual employers do not apply directly. ## Everything you need to win Youth Employment and Skills Program — $19. Applying for Youth Employment and Skills Program? Applications are assessed on 5 mandatory criteria (automatic disqualification if any are unmet): organizational capacity and track record in youth employment; quality of employer engagement strategy; demonstration of serving youth facing barriers (not general youth population); SMART objectives with clear performance measurement plan; and evidence of partnerships and community support.