Employee training grants in Canada — see which you qualify for
Answer a few quick questions and watch the map narrow to the ones your business can actually get — free, no account.
Employee Training Grants in Canada
Canada's employer training grants start with one program most Canadian employers can use: the Canada Job Grant. Delivered through each province, it covers half or more of eligible training costs (up to $10,000 per employee in Ontario and B.C.) for existing or new hires. Ontario calls it the Ontario Job Grant (formerly the Canada-Ontario Job Grant), B.C. uses the BC Employer Training Grant, Alberta runs the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant, and so on: the same federal cost-sharing framework with province-specific portals. Saskatchewan's and Manitoba's job grants are discontinued as of October 23, 2026.
Beyond the Job Grant, the federal government funds sector-wide workforce programs (the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund, up to $10M a project, open since August 25, 2026; the older Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, up to $50M, is closed as of October 23, 2026), union apprenticeship training (Union Training and Innovation Program), and foundational skills development (Skills for Success, closed to applications as of October 23, 2026). Employers in science-based sectors can access Green Jobs STIP wage subsidies (each delivery partner sets the rate; some advertise up to 75% of wages). The Scale AI Training Program provides up to $1M for companies training staff in artificial intelligence and machine learning, but it is paused and not taking applications as of October 23, 2026.
What grants cover employee training?
Three kinds of money cover employee training in Canada, as of October 23, 2026: a training-cost grant that repays part of a course, wage support while someone learns on the job, and a tax credit for apprentices.
You pay for a courseTraining-cost grant
Someone learns on the jobWage support
You employ an apprenticeA tax credit
An employee training grant is government money that repays part of what you spend training your staff; a training subsidy pays part of a worker's wage while they learn on the job, as STIP Green Jobs and Mitacs do (how the two differ).
Sources: ontario.ca (Ontario Job Grant); canada.ca (apprenticeship job creation tax credit); our Student Work Placement Program record. Read October 23, 2026.Key Training Programs
Ontario Job Grant
Organization: Government of Ontario
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $10,000 per employee
Direct employer training grant covering half (100 or more employees) to five-sixths (fewer than 100) of eligible training costs for current and new employees. Any sector, no minimum company size. Training must be with an eligible third-party trainer.
B.C. Employer Training Grant
Organization: Government of British Columbia
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $10,000 per employee
Cost-shared grant for B.C. employers to train new or existing employees. Covers classroom, online, and on-the-job training with approved third-party providers. Includes a dedicated stream for employers hiring people with disabilities.
Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant
Organization: Government of Alberta
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $5,000 per trainee (75% of training costs); max $100,000/year
Replaced the Canada-Alberta Job Grant in 2025. Helps Alberta employers cover training costs to enhance productivity. Since October 8, 2025 it pays 75% of costs, up to $5K per trainee, and business owners can be trainees.
Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant
Organization: Government of Saskatchewan
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 2/3 of training costs (max $10,000 per trainee)
Discontinued as of October 23, 2026.
Employer-driven training grants for Saskatchewan businesses. Covers costs for third-party training programs to upskill current employees or train new hires in high-demand skills areas.
Canada-Manitoba Job Grant
Organization: Government of Manitoba
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 75% of costs (small employers); max $10,000/employee, $100,000/year
Discontinued as of October 23, 2026. What is open now.
Manitoba employers with fewer than 100 employees receive 75% cost coverage; larger employers receive 50%. Covers tuition, mandatory fees, and learning materials for approved training programs.
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $50 million
Closed as of October 23, 2026. What is open now.
Addresses labour shortages in specific sectors by funding large-scale projects that connect Canadians with training and good-quality jobs. Priority sectors include health care, clean energy, and transportation. Targets industry associations and post-secondary institutions, not individual employers.
Skills for Success Program
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Closed to applications as of October 23, 2026.
Funds organizations (not individual employers) to deliver training in foundational and transferable skills: literacy, numeracy, digital skills, problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. Designed for workers in transition or those facing barriers to employment.
Union Training and Innovation Program
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $2 million
Supports union-based apprenticeship training and modern training approaches in Red Seal trades. Helps apprentices complete their training and increases diversity in the skilled trades. Available to unions, employer associations, and colleges partnering with union training programs.
Green Jobs — Science & Technology Internship Program
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Wage subsidy at a rate each delivery partner sets (some up to 75%), up to 12 months
Supports employers in natural resources, clean energy, forestry, mining, and earth sciences sectors to hire and train youth aged 15–30. The subsidy covers part of wages at a rate each delivery partner sets (some advertise up to 75%), reducing the cost of bringing in entry-level talent while building sector capacity.
Scale AI — Training Program
Organization: Scale AI (Global Innovation Cluster)
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1,000,000 per project
Paused: not accepting applications as of October 23, 2026.
Non-repayable contributions for Canadian businesses to train employees in AI and machine learning for supply chain applications. Covers custom training including lectures, coaching, workshops, and ideation sessions. Minimum project cost $5,000. Reimbursement-based with multiple funding rounds per year.
Digital Skills for Youth Program
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $30,000 per internship (100% of wages, benefits, training and admin)
Closed to applications as of October 23, 2026.
Fully funded internships for underemployed post-secondary graduates placed with SMEs and not-for-profits in digital roles. Covered all employment costs for 6-month internships. The employer paid nothing: ISED covered 100% through a delivery organization.
NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy
Organization: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Level: provincial
Amount: 60–80% wage subsidy up to $12/hr (10–28 weeks) + $2,000 employer bonus
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial training-linked wage subsidy. Two streams: long-term (24–28 weeks for workers needing extensive training) and short-term (10–24 weeks). Employer completion bonus of $2,000 at 52 weeks and $1,000 for the employee.
Which of these training programs are still open in October 2026?
Of the 12 employee training programs listed above, 6 are not taking applications as of October 23, 2026: two provincial job grants are discontinued, three federal programs are closed and one is paused. The other 6 are open.
- OpenOntario Job Grant · B.C. Employer Training Grant · Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant · Union Training and Innovation Program · Green Jobs STIP · NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy
- PausedScale AI Training ProgramScale AI says it is not currently accepting applications.
- DiscontinuedCanada-Saskatchewan Job Grant · Canada-Manitoba Job GrantOpen in Manitoba: the Employee Training Program pays up to 100% of training costs for employers hit by tariffs.
- ClosedSectoral Workforce Solutions Program · Skills for Success Program · Digital Skills for Youth ProgramOpen for sector projects: the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund, up to $10 million a project, taking applications since August 25, 2026.
How to Choose the Right Training Grant
The right training grant depends on your province, company size, and whether you need to train existing employees or bring in new talent. Use these decision paths:
You want to upskill current employees (any province): Start with your provincial Canada Job Grant equivalent. Most provinces have one, but Saskatchewan's and Manitoba's are discontinued as of October 23, 2026. Ontario and B.C. cover up to $10,000 per employee, and Alberta goes up to $5,000 per trainee. These are the highest-volume, fastest-approval training grants in Canada. Apply directly through your province's workforce portal.
You operate in a skilled trade and work with a union: The Union Training and Innovation Program (up to $2M) is the right fit. It covers Red Seal trades, apprenticeship innovation projects, and modernizing union training facilities. Unions, employer associations, and colleges with union training partnerships are the primary applicants.
You want to train staff in AI, machine learning, or supply chain technology: Scale AI's Training Program provides up to $1M non-repayable for companies implementing AI training curricula for their teams. This is sector-agnostic — manufacturing, retail, logistics, agriculture all qualify if the training is AI-focused. As of October 23, 2026 the program is paused and not taking applications.
You want to hire a new employee and offset their early-stage wages: See the hiring grants section at Grants for Hiring. The Canada Summer Jobs, STIP Green Jobs wage subsidy, and Digital Skills for Youth programs cover new hires rather than training for existing staff.
| Program | Amount | Best For | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Job Grant | Up to $10K/employee | Any sector, existing staff | ON |
| BC Employer Training Grant | Up to $10K/employee | Any sector, existing staff | BC |
| AB Productivity Grant | Up to $5K | Staff, new hires and owners | AB |
| Scale AI Training | Up to $1M (paused, Oct. 23, 2026) | AI/ML workforce training | National |
| Union Training Program | Up to $2M | Red Seal trades, apprenticeship | National |
| Sectoral Workforce Solutions | Up to $50M (closed, Oct. 23, 2026) | Sector-level workforce pipelines | National |
Workforce training grants: which ones can your organization apply for?
Workforce training grants in Canada split by who signs the application. As of October 23, 2026, a business applies itself to its province's job grant, while most federal workforce money, such as the Union Training and Innovation Program (up to $2M), goes to a union, trainer or Indigenous organization.
A workforce development grant is money for a project that trains workers across a sector or community, paid to the organization that runs it rather than to one employer. The federal grant a business can sign for itself is the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (up to $10 million a project), and only for a project that serves many employers, not one company.
You are
Who is being trained
You apply yourself 1
Nothing you sign yourself for this pick.
- Your province's job grantUp to $10K/employeeThe employer signs before the course starts: Ontario, B.C., Alberta (up to $5K), New Brunswick, P.E.I., Manitoba (tariff-hit employers). Find yours by province.
- Green Jobs STIPVaries by partnerCompanies and non-profits hiring youth into green or clean tech roles apply through a delivery partner.
- Student Work Placement ProgramUp to $5KAny Canadian employer applies through an approved delivery partner, such as ICTC for digital roles.
- Mitacs AccelerateUp to $20K/internAn incorporated company or organization signs with a university or college partner, for an R&D project with a graduate intern.
- Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax CreditUp to $2K/yrClaimed on the employer's tax return, no application. Corporations, sole proprietors and partnerships.
- NL Apprenticeship Wage SubsidyUp to $14/hourA Newfoundland and Labrador business with a journeyperson on site signs.
- Yukon Staffing UPUp to 60% rateA Yukon employer with at least one employee besides the owner signs.
You take part, a partner applies 0
No partner route for this pick.
Not for your own staff: sector, union and Indigenous projects 3
- Sectoral Workforce Innovation FundUp to $10MFor-profits, not-for-profits, Indigenous organizations and training institutions sign; a project cannot serve a single company.
- Union Training and Innovation ProgramUp to $2MA Red Seal trades union, its training trust fund, or a provider teaching apprentices signs (outside Quebec).
- Indigenous Skills and Employment Training ProgramVariesIndigenous organizations mandated to deliver training hold multi-year agreements.
Nothing else for this pick.
Paused: not taking applications now 1
- Scale AI Training ProgramUp to $1M/projectCompanies training staff in AI for supply chains. Paused as of October 23, 2026.
- Apprenticeship ServiceUp to $10KEmployers hiring a first-year Red Seal apprentice. Not taking applications as of October 23, 2026.
Nothing paused for this pick.
A business training its own staff applies to its province's job grant itself, before the course starts; the sector, union and Indigenous programs are not for one company's own staff.
| You are | Apply yourself | Through a partner |
|---|---|---|
| A business | Province job grant, SWIF, placements, AJCTC | UTIP, ISET |
| An association | SWIF, placements | UTIP |
| A union | UTIP, SWIF | None |
| A college or trainer | UTIP, SWIF | Province job grants (you deliver) |
| A non-profit | Province job grant, SWIF, placements | ISET |
| An Indigenous organization | ISET, SWIF, province job grant | None |
Can the Canada Job Grant pay for online training, and which types of training qualify?
Yes, in most cases. The types of training that qualify for Canada Job Grant funding are courses from a third-party provider, online or in a classroom, approved before they start. As of October 23, 2026, Alberta's Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant counts online training that includes a qualified instructor, and the Ontario Job Grant needs a provider with a physical presence in Ontario.
Usually counts
- A course from a college, university or licensed private trainer
- An online course led by a qualified instructor (Alberta's rule)
- In Ontario, a course from a provider that maintains a physical presence in Ontario throughout the training term, delivered in Ontario (Ontario's rule)
- A certification course from a recognized provider
- Training for someone you have offered a job (Alberta, B.C., Ontario)
Usually does not
- In-house training given by your own staff
- Self-directed learning, or homework and exams alone
- Training that started before approval
- A full or partial degree or diploma (B.C.), or an MBA or CFA (Ontario)
For a course-by-course answer, run your course through the training type check for employers. Before you fill in the form, the guide on how to apply for grants walks through the steps.
Sources: alberta.ca and ontario.ca program pages; our B.C. Employer Training Grant and Ontario Job Grant records. Read October 23, 2026.How to Apply for Employee Training Grants
Training grants have some of the highest approval rates of any business grant in Canada because they are demand-driven and employer-led. Following the right process makes a significant difference:
- Select your training provider first — Canada Job Grants require an approved third-party trainer (a college, private training provider, or online course provider). Identify training that directly addresses a business need and confirm the provider is eligible before applying. Do not pre-pay for training.
- Gather your employee list and training plan — Provincial portals ask for employee names, job titles, training course name, provider, cost breakdown, and expected outcomes. Having a clear workforce development rationale (linking the training to a specific productivity or skills gap) significantly strengthens your application.
- Apply before training begins — All Canada Job Grant variants require you to apply before training starts, and Ontario requires approval first (B.C. lets training begin before a decision, at the employer's cost if it is denied). Retroactive applications are not accepted. Apply early so the decision arrives before the training start date.
- Keep receipts and sign off on completion — Reimbursement-based grants require proof of payment and training completion. Maintain invoices, attendance records, and completion certificates. Some programs require an interim report at the mid-point.
- Stack with other programs where eligible — Canada Job Grant funding is often compatible with employer wage subsidies (like Canada Summer Jobs or STIP) for new hires who also need training. Confirm stacking limits with the program officer before combining.
What one training plan gets back in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta
The same training plan returns different money in each province, because the government's share, not the $10,000 cap, sets the cheque. As of October 23, 2026, four staff on a $3,000 course each ($12,000 in all) get back up to $10,000 in Ontario (employers under 100 staff), $9,600 in B.C. and $9,000 in Alberta.
| Province | Share paid | On $12,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario, under 100 staff | Up to five-sixths | $10,000 |
| Ontario, 100+ staff | Half | $6,000 |
| B.C. | 80% | $9,600 |
| Alberta | 75% | $9,000 |
Saskatchewan and Manitoba: both job grants are discontinued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Canada Job Grant and how much can I get?
The Canada Job Grant is a federal-provincial cost-sharing program that reimburses employers for eligible employee training costs. Governments cover a share each province sets (half or more of the cost in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta as of October 23, 2026); you contribute the rest. The maximum per employee is typically $10,000, with annual caps per employer of $100,000 in Alberta and $300,000 in B.C. Each province has its own application portal and slight variations in eligible expenses — but the core structure is the same across Canada.
Does the Canada Job Grant cover online training?
Yes, most provincial variants of the Canada Job Grant accept online and e-learning courses from eligible providers. The key requirement is that the training provider must be recognized: typically a registered private vocational school, college, university, or pre-approved online platform. Self-directed learning with no formal provider does not qualify. Always confirm provider eligibility with your provincial workforce office before registering employees; Ontario, for one, needs a provider with a physical presence in Ontario and training delivered in Ontario.
Can I get a training grant for upskilling existing employees (not new hires)?
Yes — Canada Job Grant variants are specifically designed for existing employees, not just new hires. You can use the grant to retrain current staff in new technologies, safety certifications, leadership skills, technical trades, and more. There is no requirement to hire new employees to access these funds. New hire training is also eligible but is not a prerequisite.
What is the difference between a training grant and a wage subsidy?
A training grant reimburses the cost of third-party training courses: tuition, course fees, and materials. A wage subsidy covers a portion of an employee's wages during a work placement or onboarding period. Some programs (like STIP Green Jobs) combine both: they subsidize wages while the employee gains on-the-job training. Canada Job Grants are training grants. Canada Summer Jobs and STIP are wage subsidies. Both can sometimes be stacked for new hires who also need formal training.
Are there training grants specifically for small businesses?
Yes. In Ontario, employers with fewer than 100 employees pay at least one-sixth of training costs while larger employers pay half, so small businesses receive a larger share. Manitoba's Canada-Manitoba Job Grant gave small employers (under 100 employees) 75% coverage vs. 50% for larger companies; it is discontinued as of October 23, 2026. Ontario's program has no size minimum. B.C.'s ETG has a dedicated stream for small businesses hiring people with disabilities. The Skills for Success Program, closed to applications as of October 23, 2026, funded delivery organizations that specifically serve small business workers and those facing barriers to employment.
Is there a training grant for AI and technology skills?
Not open right now. Scale AI's Training Program, paused and not taking applications as of October 23, 2026, provides up to $1 million per project for companies training employees in AI, machine learning, and supply chain technology. This is national in scope and sector-agnostic. The Digital Skills for Youth Program covered fully-funded 6-month internships for post-secondary graduates in digital roles; it is closed to applications as of October 23, 2026. Both programs are non-repayable contributions — not loans.
Can a not-for-profit organization get employee training grants?
Yes. Most Canada Job Grant variants are available to non-profit employers. The Skills for Success Program, closed to applications as of October 23, 2026, was primarily targeted at organizations (including non-profits) that deliver training to workers. Canada Summer Jobs is specifically designed for non-profits and public-sector organizations. The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program funded industry associations, which are often non-profit, to build sector training pipelines; it is closed as of October 23, 2026, and the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (up to $10 million a project) has taken applications since August 25, 2026.
Which types of training are eligible for Canada Job Grant funding?
The types of training that qualify for Canada Job Grant funding are courses from a third-party provider, online or in a classroom, approved before they start. As of October 23, 2026, Alberta's Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant counts online training that includes a qualified instructor, and the Ontario Job Grant needs a provider with a physical presence in Ontario.
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