Canada-Alberta Job Grant

Overview of the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program:

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) is an employer-driven program designed to support workforce development by providing funding to businesses that invest in training new or existing employees. This initiative aligns with both federal and provincial goals to build a more skilled, adaptable labor force. Through this program, employers can receive reimbursement for direct training costs, making it easier to enhance employee skill sets and boost productivity. Eligible training includes both occupational and soft skills training provided by third-party trainers. The program supports short-term training that leads to a job, maintains a job, or improves the skill level of an employee. The training must be delivered by an eligible third-party trainer and must result in a skills credential, such as a certificate, diploma, or industry-recognized credential. Employers can apply for funding to train existing staff or new hires, and individuals unemployed for more than six months may be eligible for 100% funding if hired by the employer and trained under this program. Funding is not retroactive and must be approved before training starts. The CAJG is designed to be flexible and employer-focused, covering a range of industries and job types across Alberta.

Benefits of the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program:

• Reimbursement of up to 66% of training costs (100% for new hires who were unemployed).
• Encourages skill development that leads to job retention or advancement.
• Employers choose the training provider and type of training needed.
• Supports customized, short-term training aligned with job market needs.
• Increases employability for Albertans through job-specific training.
• Helps businesses grow a skilled, competitive workforce.
• Flexible use across multiple industries and job functions.

Eligibility criteria of the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program:

• To be eligible, employers must:
• Be located in Alberta.
• Be a private or non-profit sector employer, or a First Nations or Metis organization.
• Have a job available in Alberta for the trainee at the end of the training.
• Provide a minimum of one-third of the total training cost unless training an unemployed individual.
• Eligible trainees include:
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Existing employees or unemployed individuals who will be hired and trained.
• Not currently a full-time student.
• Training providers must:
• Be third-party trainers separate from the employer.
• Deliver training that results in a certificate, credential, or industry-recognized outcome.
• Training must not start before the application is approved.