Youth Employment Strategy Programs

The Youth Employment Strategy (YES)  is the Government of Canada's commitment to help young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. 

Under the Youth Employment Strategy, Service Canada offers the following three programs:

Career Focus provides funding for employers to help post-secondary graduates obtain career-related work opportunities in Canada to support their development of advanced skills, to help them make career-related links to the job market, and to assist them in becoming leaders in their field.

Skills Link provides funding to community organizations to help youth facing barriers to employment - such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas and high school dropouts - develop the broad range of skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market.

Summer Work Experience provides wage subsidies to employers to create summer employment for secondary and post-secondary students, and support the operation of summer employment offices.

Youth Awareness provides financial assistance for projects designed to respond to specific labour market requirements and adjustments over time.  The main goal of Youth Awareness is that recipients, employers, communities and youth develop a heightened perception of youth as the workforce of the future.

These programs are delivered in partnership with 12 other federal departments/ agencies and various private, public and not-for-profit groups.

More information for employers and youth

• Applicant Guide for Skills Link and Career Focus Programs
  Helps applicants develop proposals for federal funding and sets out the specific roles and responsibilities that must be met in projects approved for funding.
• Canada Student Loans Program 
  Everything you need to know to apply for, maintain and repay your Student Loan. 
• Career Exploration Resources
  Valuable career information and planning resources to help you make your career choices. 
• Other Government Youth Employment Strategy Programs
  Links to other federal partners involved in the Youth Employment Strategy.
• Essential Skills 
  Find out about skills that people use in their jobs and in their lives every day.
• Youth Awareness
  Funded through the Employment Insurance Account, Youth Awareness provides financial assistance to sponsors to design projects that respond to specific labour market requirements and adjustments, and heightens the awareness of youth as the labour market of the future.
• Youth Information Products and Services
  Resources to help youth make informed decisions about employment opportunities, training options and career development strategies. 
• Youth.gc.ca
  The source of information about programs and services available to youth at the community level and beyond.  
• Youth Link
  Includes close to 200 programs, services and resources for young people between 15 and 30. It is also a valuable resource for employers, career counsellors, parents, educators and community groups.  

About the Youth Employment Strategy

Twelve 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.