Funding of up to $3.7 million is available through the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP). The federal program will support approximately 300 jobs for youth in the agriculture sector this year.
Available for employees ages 15 to 30, the YESP aims to provide young Canadian with job experience in agriculture that could lead to a career working in the sector.
Applications are now open, and eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations, and research facilities.
Under the YESP:
- Employers that hire youth facing specific employment barriers will be eligible for 80 per cent of the cost of salaries and benefits, up to $14,000
- Applicants will be eligible for an additional $5,000 in funding to address the barriers, including relocation
- Depending on demand, the program will support 50 per cent of salaries and benefits for youth who do not face these barriers, up to $14,000
Minister of Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada, Marie-Claude Bibeau says Canadian youth are the future of the agriculture sector, so we need to provide them with tools and opportunities to gain experiences to help them reach their full potential.
“The Youth Employment and Skills Program helps eliminate barriers to employment for those wishing to pursue a career in agriculture,” Bibeau says. “Our government continues to support agri-food employers to ensure the prosperity of the industry.”
Employers can apply between February 28, 2022 and March 21, 2022 for their project to be considered.
