Hiring Grants Canada and Training Grants 2026: Top Funding Programs for Employers 

As labour shortages, skills gaps, and rising workforce costs continue to challenge Canadian businesses, government funding programs remain one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of hiring and training employees. Whether you are recruiting students, onboarding new talent, upskilling your workforce, or developing future leaders, hiring grants and training grants can help offset a significant portion of your investment. 

In 2026, employers across Canada have access to a range of federal and provincial funding programs designed to support workforce development. These programs provide wage subsidies, employee training funding, internship support, and workforce development grants that help businesses attract and retain talent while improving productivity. 

For many organizations, the greatest opportunity lies in combining hiring incentives with training grants. By strategically stacking funding programs where permitted, businesses can reduce labour costs while building a stronger, more competitive workforce. 

Federal Hiring Grants Helping Employers Grow Talent  

Federal workforce development programs continue to play an important role in helping Canadian employers attract new talent. 

One of the most widely used hiring incentives is the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). Through a network of approved delivery partners, employers can receive wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students through co-op placements, internships, and other work-integrated learning opportunities. Funding can provide up to $5,000 per student placement, helping employers build future talent pipelines while reducing recruitment costs. 

Funding Snapshot: Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) 

The SWPP helps employers create paid work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students. 

Program Objective 

• Support experiential learning opportunities for students 
• Strengthen industry talent pipelines 

Funding Amount 

• Up to 50% of eligible wages 
• Up to $5,000 per student placement 

Eligible Applicants 

• Canadian businesses 
• Not-for-profit organizations 
• Public-sector employers 

Eligible Projects 

• Co-op placements 
• Internships 
• Work-integrated learning opportunities 

Timeline 

• Ongoing intake through approved delivery partners 

Another popular hiring initiative is Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ), which helps employers create quality summer employment opportunities for youth aged 15 to 30. The program supports private-sector employers, not-for-profit organizations, and public-sector employers looking to hire students and young workers during the summer months. 

Employers should also explore sector-specific wage subsidy programs administered by organizations such as the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), BioTalent Canada, ECO Canada, Tourism HR Canada, and Magnet. These initiatives frequently support hiring activities in key sectors facing talent shortages and skills gaps. 

Provincial Training Grants for Workforce Development 

While hiring grants help businesses attract talent, training grants help organizations maximize the value of their workforce investments. Several provinces have recently modernized or expanded workforce development programs to support employer-led training initiatives. 

Funding Snapshot: Ontario Job Grant (OJG) 

In May 2026, Ontario officially relaunched the Canada-Ontario Job Grant under a new name: the Ontario Job Grant (OJG). The OJG program continues to support employer-driven training initiatives while helping businesses address skills shortages, improve productivity, and retain talent. Applications are now open on an ongoing basis. 

Program Objective 

• Support employee training and workforce development 
• Help employers address skills gaps and labour market needs 

Funding Amount 

• Up to $10,000 per trainee 

Eligible Applicants 

• Ontario employers 
• Private-sector businesses 
• Non-profit organizations 

Eligible Projects 

• Leadership development 
• Technical training 
• Digital skills training 
• Industry certifications 
• Professional development initiatives 

Timeline 

• Ongoing intake through Employment Ontario service providers 

Funding Snapshot: Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) 

The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) replaced the former Canada-Alberta Job Grant and helps Alberta employers invest in productivity-focused training initiatives. The program supports skills development that improves operational efficiency, technical expertise, digital transformation, and workforce competitiveness. 

Program Objective 

• Improve workforce productivity 
• Support employer-led training initiatives 
• Enhance organizational competitiveness 

Funding Amount 

• Up to $5,000 per employee 
• Up to $10,000 for unemployed new hires receiving training 
• Maximum annual employer funding of $100,000 

Eligible Applicants 

• Alberta employers across most industries 

Eligible Projects 

• Technical training 
• Productivity improvement training 
• Digital transformation skills development 
• Process improvement initiatives 

Timeline 

• Continuous intake throughout the year 

Funding Snapshot: New Brunswick Workforce Development and Hiring Funding 

New Brunswick employers can access a variety of workforce development and hiring supports through WorkingNB and provincial workforce development initiatives. Programs may support employee recruitment, workforce expansion, skills training, and wage subsidies designed to help employers address labour shortages and improve workforce capacity. 

Program Objective 

• Address labour shortages 
• Support workforce growth 
• Increase access to training and employment opportunities 

Funding Amount 

• Varies by program and project 

Eligible Applicants 

• New Brunswick employers 
• Growing businesses experiencing workforce challenges 

Eligible Projects 

• Employee recruitment 
• Workforce training 
• Wage subsidy initiatives 
• Skills development programs 

Timeline 

• Multiple intake periods depending on the specific program 

Funding Snapshot: Quebec’s Mesure de formation de la main-d’œuvre (MFOR) 

Quebec employers can leverage Mesure de formation de la main-d’œuvre (MFOR) to support employee training and workforce development activities. The program is designed to help businesses improve workforce skills, increase productivity, support organizational transformation, and address labour market challenges. 

Program Objective 

• Improve employee skills 
• Support workforce transformation 
• Increase organizational productivity 

Funding Amount 

• Varies based on project scope and training requirements 

Eligible Applicants 

• Quebec-based employers 
• Organizations investing in employee development 

Eligible Projects 

• Technical training 
• Leadership development 
• Professional skills development 
• Workforce transformation initiatives 

Timeline 

• Applications are generally accepted through Quebec workforce development channels, subject to regional program administration. 

Combining Hiring Grants and Training Grants for Maximum Funding Impact 

Many businesses focus on either hiring funding or training funding. The most successful organizations leverage both as part of a broader workforce development strategy. 

For example, a manufacturer may use a wage subsidy program to hire engineering students and then access training funding to develop specialized technical skills once those employees transition into permanent roles. Similarly, a technology company may hire interns through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) while simultaneously leveraging provincial training grants to support certifications in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, project management, or advanced software development. 

By combining hiring and training grants, employers can reduce recruitment costs, improve employee retention, and accelerate workforce development. Many funding programs support the full employee lifecycle, from attracting new talent to providing ongoing professional development opportunities that strengthen skills and productivity. Depending on the programs available, businesses may be able to access multiple funding streams to support hiring students and graduates, workforce training initiatives, leadership development programs, technical skills training, and apprenticeship-related activities. 

Understanding program eligibility requirements, application timelines, and funding stacking rules can help businesses maximize available support while building a stronger, more competitive workforce. 

Turning Workforce Development into a Competitive Advantage 

Hiring and training employees remains one of the largest investments most organizations make. Fortunately, government funding programs can help reduce those costs while strengthening workforce capabilities. 

From the Student Work Placement Program and Canada Summer Jobs to the Ontario Job Grant and other provincial workforce development initiatives, Canadian employers have access to valuable funding opportunities that support hiring, employee training, and long-term business growth. 

Navigating the funding landscape can be complex, especially when multiple programs, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines are involved. That’s where Ryan can help. 

Ready to Access Hiring and Training Funding? 

Ryan’s Canadian Government Funding team works with businesses across the country to identify hiring grants, wage subsidies, employee training grants, and workforce development funding opportunities. Our team helps organizations develop funding strategies, prepare applications, and maximize available incentives to support growth. 

Contact Ryan’s Canadian Government Funding team today to discover which hiring grants and training grants your Canadian business may qualify for and start building a stronger workforce in 2026 and beyond.