Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP)

The Youth Employment and Skills Program provides a wage subsidy to employers who hire youth for agricultural jobs. The program offers support for 50% of wages to a maximum of $14,000.

1. What this program offers

Intake period: Closed

Applications were accepted until March 3, 2025.

Important changes to the program start in 2025

• Changes to past employee eligibility
• New employment requirements for employer
• Updates to eligibility of certain barrier-related costs

Learn more about eligibility.

The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $14,000 in matching funds to employ one (1) employee. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Funding

The program offers support for 50% of wages to a maximum of $14,000. If approved, the following employers are eligible to receive 80% of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $14,000:

• Indigenous individuals or organizations
• Employers who hire a youth facing barriers

The program can also provide up to $5,000 in additional support to offset the employment barrier faced by the employee hired.

If a youth facing barriers must relocate within Canada, reasonable expenses directly related to the relocation may also be eligible under barrier expenses. Barrier-related expenses cannot exceed $5,000 and will be supported at 80%. Non-barrier youth may also be eligible for pre-approved relocation costs at the 50% funding level to a maximum of $5,000.

Cost sharing

Contributions towards eligible costs will normally be shared between AAFC and you as follows:

Non-barrier applications

• 50% of Total salary to a maximum of $14,000
• If applicable, 50% of Total relocation costs to a maximum of $5,000 (can be applied for at a later date, if conditional approval is received for initial application)
  • AAFC — maximum of 50%
  • You — minimum of 50%

Barrier applications

• 80% of Total salary to a maximum of $14,000
• If applicable, 80% of Total relocation costs and/or barrier-related costs to a maximum of $5,000 (can be applied for at a later date, if conditional approval is received for initial application)
  • AAFC — maximum of 80%
  • You — minimum of 20%

Stacking of government funds is permitted but you may not profit from the project. You cannot receive more than 100% of the total project amount in total financing (municipal, provincial or federal). The onus is on you to make sure the 'other program' allows stacking.

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