Youth Employment Strategy Guide for Applicants
Summer Work Experience
Summer Work Experience creates summer employment opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students, and supports the operation of summer employment offices. This program is delivered in partnership with various private, public and not-for-profit groups.
Eligible Participants
To participate in Summer Work Experience, youth must be:
- between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
- full-time secondary or post-secondary students returning to full-time studies;
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons on whom refugee protection has been conferred;12
- legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations;13 and
- not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.14
The eligibility criteria apply only to the Summer Career Placements program.
12 Refugee protection must be conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Persons awaiting refugee status, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, student visa or work visa, are ineligible to participate in a Youth Employment Strategy initiative.
13 In those provincial/territorial jurisdictions where labour legislation states a different minimum age for employment, the age eligibility for Summer Work Experience should be adjusted to reflect provincial/territorial requirements. Any underage participants will have to leave the program regardless of the point at which they are identified. Any other applicable legislation or regulations must also be observed.
14 Participants must not be in receipt of EI. Priority will be given to non EI-eligible youth (i.e., not entitled to Part I or Part II benefits). EI recipients wishing to participate in a Summer Work Experience project should consult an EI agent and voluntarily withdraw from EI.
Project Activities
Summer Work Experience helps students acquire employment and/or career-related skills; supports them in financing and furthering their education; and provides career, learning and labour market information to help them find a summer job or short-term employment.
Summer Work Experience provides wage subsidies to employers to help them hire students for the summer months. It also funds information and promotional activities.
Initiatives
Summer Work Experience includes the following initiatives:
Summer Career Placements (SCP) is the key Summer Work Experience initiative funded through the Youth Employment Strategy, providing wage subsidies that enable private, public and not-for-profit employers to create career-related summer jobs for secondary and post-secondary students. There are also special provisions for employers who hire students with disabilities. Summer Career Placements activities focus on providing students with hands-on work experience, supported by supervision and mentoring.
Summer Career Placements applications can be made through local Service Canada Centre. Deadline dates for applying are determined annually and are normally announced in January each year.
Partners in Promoting Summer Employment (PPSE) enables the Government of Canada to collaborate with local organizations to promote the hiring of students throughout their region and/or communities.
Service Canada Centre for Youth, are located across Canada and open to the public from May to August. These offices help students find summer jobs and offer group information and one-on-one sessions on résumé writing, preparing for interviews and looking for a job. Employers can access services free of charge to find motivated employees for the summer months. Offices also provide students and potential employers with up- to-date information about wage rates and labour laws, health and safety in the workplace, and information on other federal and provincial youth employment programs.
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About the Youth Employment Strategy
Thirteen Government of Canada departments and agencies work in partnership with business, labour, industry, not-for-profit and voluntary organizations, rural and remote communities and all levels of government to help young people get the information and develop the skills and work experience they need to prepare for and participate in the world of work. Read more about this initiative or call the Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555.