Up to $370 million will be available across the province to help private sector businesses and non-profit organizations hire and train unemployed Albertans. The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide businesses support for unemployed and under-employed Albertans as a part of the provinces economic recovery plan.
Premier Jason Kenney says this is the single, biggest employment training program in Alberta’s history. “It will give Alberta another tool to help get Albertans back to work.” Kenney says the jobs training program is in partnership with the federal government’s Workforce Development Agreement. Alberta will provide up to $185 million with the other half through federal transfers.
Employers will be able to apply for a grant that covers 25 per cent of an employee’s salary for a 52-week period up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. The grant can be used to cover salary or training costs. Employers who hire persons with disabilities will receive a grant 1.5 times higher than the amount they receive for other new employees.
The province says over 22,000 Albertans will be able to get back to work with the Alberta Jobs Now program.
Labour and Immigration Minister Jason Copping says the program is a win-win solution. “It’s reduces cost for employers, it gets Albertans back to work sooner, and that’s what everyone in this equation needs right now.” Copping also noted the Alberta Jobs Now is about creating opportunities for training and long-term employment.
To be eligible for the program, private sector business or non-profit organizations must use the funding to hire unemployed Albertans in a new or vacant position, the new hire must reside and work in Alberta and must not have worked for the employer within the past 90 days.
Employers can apply through the application portal starting at 9 a.m. on May 20 with applications being accepted until August 31. A second application period will open on September 15 and close on December 31. Employers can apply for up to 20 new hires during each intake period.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
