Deadline: 24-Feb-25
Applications are now open for the Youth Employment and Skills Program.
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
Funding Information
- The program offers support for 50% of wages to a maximum of $14,000. If approved, the following employers are eligible to receive 80% of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $14,000:
- Indigenous individuals or organizations
- Employers who hire a youth facing barriers
- The program can also provide up to $5,000 in additional support to offset the employment barrier faced by the employee hired.
Eligible Projects
- Projects must start no earlier than April 1, 2025 and must be completed by March 31, 2026.
- Projects must offer the employee agricultural work that is of a meaningful length (generally 2 months or more).
- You must assign only one employee to each project (the employee may be hired for all kinds of employment statuses [part-time, full-time, casual, seasonal, etc.])
- Examples of projects include:
- farmers who wish to hire farm workers to plant and harvest crops or manage livestock
- agricultural businesses, such as greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, or vegetable producers who have labor needs
- small businesses who supply agricultural products or services
- food processors in need of labour
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility for Employers
- Employers must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- You are an agricultural-related organization who can offer opportunities that will give youth agriculture career-related work experiences and skills in Canada
- You are a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements
- You are responsible for hiring and verifying the eligibility of participants for the Youth Employment and Skills Program activities
- You must pay wages and benefits in a timely manner and in accordance with labour laws and regulations of the province/territory of the work site
- You must hire the employee under the organization’s payroll and required source deductions must be deducted from the employee’s pay (contracted employees are not eligible)
- You cannot hire yourself for a project (for example, sole proprietors cannot be the employer and employee)
- Employers must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- Eligibility for Employees
- Employees must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.
- The employee is between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) at the project start date
- The employee is unemployed or underemployed
- The employee is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or a status refugee under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- The employee does not receive Employment Insurance (EI) during the project period
- Employees must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.
For more information, visit Government of Canada.