Training and Employment Initiatives

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada supports several Employment Programs to help unemployed and underemployed Canadians, including those facing barriers to employment.

The Government of Canada also provides funding to provinces and territories for skills and employment training programs through Labour Market Development Agreements.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for these employment programs, you must meet the definition of an "insured participant" found in Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. When applying for assistance, you must be unemployed and legally authorized to work in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) and either:

  • Have a current claim for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits; or
  • Have a previous EI claim whose benefit period ended in the preceding 36 months; or
  • Have a previous benefit period that began in the preceding 60 months (5 years), during which the individual was paid maternity or parental benefits, after which they left the labour market to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and are now seeking to re-enter the labour market.
  • Other criteria may apply depending on the province or territory you live in.

To obtain information on employment programming where you live, please contact your provincial or territorial government.

Related Programs and Services