Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) created the Career Launcher program in 2015 to help transition highly skilled students and grads to future-ready employment. Over the past few years, Career Launcher has branched out to include additional offerings and is now a platform for a range of CICan’s programs.

Our programs provide wage subsidies and hiring incentives to help address labour shortages, strengthen industries, and improve equity and diversity in the workplace. We help job seekers access meaningful employment and free training opportunities to kickstart their careers.

Our Internship Programs help to strengthen specific sectors and encourage employers to hire students and grads by providing wage subsidies. These jobs ensure tomorrow’s workforce have the skills needed in Canada’s ever-evolving economy. Employers in clean tech, digital tech, natural resources, as well as those that support Canada’s Sustainable Development Goal efforts can benefit from this program.

The Apprenticeships Program provides financial incentives to small and medium-sized employers in construction and manufacturing to help them hire first-year apprentices. The program responds to labour market needs and promotes equitable work and learning opportunities for all Canadians.

The Supportive Care Assistant Program is part of a national initiative to strengthen the long-term care sector. The program was designed to attract and rapidly train new workers for the sector by providing free online training and a paid work placement. Employers receive a wage subsidy to welcome trainees into their workplaces.

Career Launcher programs are funded by the Government of Canada.