Department of Post-Secondary Education

Youth Employment Fund

This program is currently closed.

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage Subsidy

Description:

The Youth Employment Fund (YEF) provides funding to create an entry point to long-term employment for unemployed individuals between 18 and 29 years of age who require a work experience opportunity as identified through their employment action plan. The program provides a job placement for up to eighteen weeks with a New Brunswick employer.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is 100% of the minimum wage for 30 hours a week, subsidized for up to 18 weeks. It includes the following Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs): Employment Insurance (EI), Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and Vacation Pay for each approved position. The Employer is responsible for the Workplace, Health, Safety and Compensation Commission premiums.
Employers may, and are encouraged to, increase the hours per week and duration of the placement to reflect employment duration for the sector.

When It Ends:

Closed

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants/employers must:

be private sector businesses (they are the priority),
be non-profit organizations,
be municipalities;
be provincial government departments/agencies only,
First Nations,
be located in New Brunswick,
provide a quality (i.e. orientation, coaching and mentoring) work experience opportunity,
have demonstrated commitment and positive experience in previous placements, if applicable. Priority will be given to employers who express an intent to retain the participant after the placement period.
pay youth based on an hourly wage.

Youth employees must:

be legally entitled to work in Canada,
be unemployed, underemployed or working less than 15 hours per week,
be a resident of New Brunswick,
have an employment action plan and be referred by an employment counsellor / case manager from one of the following: Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Social Development, Employment Assistance Services organizations, Aboriginal organizations, Public Safety, Office of Human Resources (Equal Opportunity Program),
be between 18-29 (at least 18 years old but less than 30 years old at the time of application). Youth do not need to have graduated from high school in order to participate in the program (i.e. there is no minimum education requirement
not be a full-time student (Youths aged 18-years-old, who will be graduating in June that are not planning to attend full-time post-secondary education and are planning to enter the labour force immediately after high school may apply to the program after May 1st for placements starting after obtaining their diploma),
have a resume before being placed with an employer,
have not previously participated in a YEF placement,
not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, children, parents, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.

Application Steps:

Applicants must submit their information online on https://www.nbjobs.ca/ and a staff member from their local Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour office will contact them to assist with the application process and determine eligibility.

Other Things to Note:

"Please note that applications for this program have now closed, and the Youth Employment Fund Program has been replaced with other services."

Program Contact:

Youth Employment Fund

Youth Employment Fund Guidelines

Youth Employment Fund - For Employers

Work Ability

This program is currently closed.

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage Subsidy

Description:

The Work Ability Program provides work experience opportunities to unemployed individuals who require a job placement to overcome a barrier as identified through their employment action plan and financial support to their employers by reimbursing part of the wage and the employer’s share of benefits for the duration of the placement.

Comments on Funding:

The reimbursement rate is minimum wage plus the employer’s share of benefits (CPP, EI, and vacation pay).
The wage reimbursement is up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.
The placement can be for a minimum of 3 weeks up to a maximum of 12 weeks in duration.

When It Ends:

Closed

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

The employer must:

be a non-profit organization, municipality, provincial government department/agency, private sector business or First Nation,
complete a client evaluation at the end of the job placement.

The individual must:

be a resident of New Brunswick,
be legally entitled to work in Canada,
have an employment action plan and be referred by an employment counsellor / case manager,
not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, children, parents, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or director of the organization or a member of their immediate families,
be 18 years of age or over and out of an educational institution (high school or post-secondary institution) for at least six months.

Application Steps:

Employers interested in participating in the Work Ability Program can submit an Inventory Registration Application to the appropriate PETL regional office. A Program Officer will contact them when an individual requiring their type of job placement is referred by an Employment Counsellor/Case Manager.

Other Things to Note:

Please note that applications for this program have now closed, and the Work Ability Program has been replaced with other services.

Program Contact:

Work Ability

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Student Entrepreneurship

Amount:

$3,000.00

Type of Program:

Loan

Description:

The Student Entrepreneurship component provides an interest-free loan of up to $3,000 to help students start a summer business that will create at least one full-time student summer job and provide the applicant with a valuable business experience.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is up to $3,000. If the loan has been repaid in full, students may be reimbursed up to 1/3 of the loan, provided that all program regulations and requirements have been met.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

be students,
be returning to full-time studies in the fall. Priority will be given to students who will be attending a post-secondary institution in the fall.
be 16 or older. Applicants under 18 will need the signature of a guarantor acceptable to the bank in order to obtain the loan.
have established New Brunswick residency or lived in the province during the last six months and be returning to full-time studies in New Brunswick in the fall. Long-term New Brunswick residents remain eligible even if they are studying outside the province.
operate the business in New Brunswick.
An individual may have only one Student Entrepreneurship loan outstanding at any time during the program period, either as a sole proprietor or as a partner

The business:

must fall under generally accepted definitions of an independent business. That means the student should have a large measure of independent control over business operations. Under this criterion, certain types of product distributorships may not be eligible (i.e., where the applicant is essentially a commissioned salesperson for a manufacturer or distributor).
must create one or more full-time summer jobs and provide the student with business experience on a daily basis (minimum of 30 hours per week),
has to operate for at least 6 weeks.
must be able to demonstrate independence from the family-owned operation if operating on family-owned premises or businesses.

Application Steps:

The applicants should pick up application booklets at their local Department's Regional Office, Service New Brunswick Centre or Enterprise Agency. The booklet provides directions on how to prepare a business plan and advice on the steps to take to form a business.

Documentation Needed:

The application must include a business plan that shows how the business will be able to pay back the loan by October 15.

Program Contact:

Student Entrepreneurship

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Self-Employment Benefit – Workforce Expansion

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Grants & Loan

Description:

The Workforce Expansion Self-Employment Benefit Program provides various types of support during the initial development phase of the business including financial assistance, coaching and ongoing technical advice to unemployed individuals to create a job for themselves by starting a new business.

Comments on Funding:

Applicants who are receiving or are eligible to receive Employment Insurance benefits, will continue to receive these benefits until their claim ends. At that time, they will receive support at a provincially established rate for the duration of time remaining on the program.
If they are approved for the Self-Employment Benefit Program but not receiving Employment Insurance benefits, they will receive a weekly allowance at a provincially established rate.
Revenue from the business will not be deducted from your benefits while you are participating in the Self-Employment Benefit Program.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

be legally entitled to work in Canada,
reside in New Brunswick, or be willing to establish residency in New Brunswick,
not be a full-time student,
be unemployed and EI eligible,
present a business plan,
work full-time at the business (at least 35 hours per week),
have decision-making control over the business operation and have 50% or more ownership,
agree to and have an acceptable credit review,
be able to provide additional capital to the business in form of cash or in-kind contributions at a minimum of 5% of total start-up costs,
not have started the business prior to being approved and signing a contract for the Self-Employment Benefit program,
not have received funding under the Self-Employment Benefit Program within the last five years.

Business started under the Self-Employment Benefit Program must:

be a for-profit venture,
operate on a full-time basis for a minimum of 44 weeks per year,
be established in New Brunswick and begin operation within ten weeks of signing a Self-Employment Benefit contract,
demonstrate viability.

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

meet with the local Self-Employment Benefit Coordinator in his area. The Coordinator will analyze his strengths and needs, and recommend whether or not self-employment is a viable option for him.

submit an application and, with the assistance of the Self-Employment Benefit Coordinator, prepare a business plan. He may be required to attend an orientation session provided in his community.

Documentation Needed:

The applicant must submit an application and a business plan.

Other Things to Note:

The Self-Employment Benefit Program is delivered in partnership with non-profit, private and/or public organizations. Services with these organizations are purchased in accordance with the New Brunswick Public Purchasing Act, Regulation 94-157.

Program Contact:

Self-Employment Benefit - Workforce Expansion

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CSS-FOL-61-6277-06E_GUIDE.pdf

Labour Force Training

Amount:

$40,000

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Labour Force Training Program provides funding to eligible New Brunswick businesses and organizations to train individuals who are being considered for an available job in their company and/or to improve the skills and opportunities of their new or existing employees.

Comments on Funding:

There are two levels of funding available:

Level 1 provides 50% funding, through a reimbursement of eligible training costs based on the program consultant’s assessment.
Level 2 provides 25% funding, through a reimbursement of eligible training costs based on the program consultant’s assessment.

The maximum government contribution per employer, per region, per fiscal year is $40,000.
The minimum eligible cost per training, per fiscal is $500.
The applicant must financially contribute towards the eligible training costs. The contribution amount is based on the department level of funding.

Applicants may receive funding contributions from other federal and/or provincial departments and/or the private sector towards the training provided that the funding is not for the same total costs eligible under the Labour Force Training program, and/or is not being used by the applicant towards their contribution.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

be private sector,
be non-profit organizations,
be First Nations,
have their place of business in New Brunswick.

Training participants must be:

current employees or the owners of the company,
employed by the applicant,
potential employees be selected by the applicant who must require training to obtain an available job with the applicant,
legally entitled to work in Canada,
working in N.B. on a permanent basis.

Application Steps:

Applicants must submit the completed application form to Government of New Brunswick, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

Applications must:

be received prior to training start date.

be assessed and approved prior to training start date.

Documentation Needed:

The applicant must submit:

the completed application form,
the training proposal and curriculum from the training provider.

Program Contact:

Labour Force Training

Labour Force Training Application Form