Federal funding available for agriculture employers hiring youth

Applications are now open for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Program, an initiative to support jobs for young people in agriculture.

In February, AAFC announced approximately $13 million would be invested to enhance the program, supporting around 1,200 jobs. Through this program, agriculture employers hiring young Canadians are eligible for support in the form of 50 per cent of wages to a maximum of $14,000.

“Canadian youth are the future of our sector. The Youth Employment and Skills Program helps eliminate barriers to employment by providing meaningful work opportunities for Canadian youth wanting to pursue a career in agriculture,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in a press release.

If employers are hiring youth with employment barriers, they are “eligible for 80 per cent of the cost of salaries and benefits and may be eligible for an additional $5,000 to address specific obstacles to employment,” according to the press release.

The application deadline is March 27, 2023. Employers can apply on the Youth Employment and Skills Program webpage.

For more information, contact aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@canada.ca or 1-866-452-5558.