Incentives in Trades

Receive up to $20,000 for hiring new apprentices!

Please note: This program is no longer accepting new applications and the March 1, 2024 payment request deadline has passed.

Growing your team? Get funding to hire up to two new apprentices.

It’s easy. Just enrol, hire, and collect!

  • Get $5,000 for hiring a new apprentice.
  • Get $10,000 for hiring a new apprentice who self-identifies as part of an eligible equity-deserving group.
  • Use the money in any way you see fit. No strings attached!
  • Get support to help you recruit, onboard, and retain new apprentices.

Funding is available for Canadian small and medium-sized employers for new apprentices in one of 39 Red Seal construction or manufacturing trades.

Scroll down to learn more about Career Launcher Apprenticeships by Colleges and Institutes Canada.

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service Program.

Funding details

Overview

Our Apprenticeships Program provides financial incentives to small and medium-sized employers in construction and manufacturing to help them hire new apprentices.

  • Funding is available to hire a maximum of two new apprentices per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
  • Eligible employers can receive $10,000 for hiring a new new apprentice who voluntarily self-identifies as part of an eligible equity-deserving group.
  • Eligible employers can receive $5,000 for hiring a new new apprentice who is not part of an equity-deserving group.
  • Eligible equity-deserving groups for the purposes of this program are:
    • Women;
    • Indigenous people;
    • Newcomers to Canada (< 10 years);
    • Persons with disabilities;
    • Visible minorities (i.e., racialized communities); and
    • 2SLGBTQI+ people
  • Employers can allocate the funding for any purpose that supports the apprenticeship, including:
    • Salaries for the apprentice or mentoring journeyperson;
    • Training costs;
    • Tools, equipment and PPE;
    • Hiring bonuses; and
    • Other purposes that offset the costs of the position.
  • Employers can receive this funding in addition to any provincial or regional incentives; however, employers cannot receive hiring incentives from more than one organization supported by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service program.
  • The deadline for submitting payment requests is March 1, 2024.

Enrolment process

To receive the financial incentive, you must sign a participation agreement before hiring a new apprentice! All eligible employers will be approved until program funds are exhausted.

Steps

  1. Enrol online and we will prepare your participation agreement. You can also download the  enrolment form and mail it to us.
  2. Sign the agreement to confirm your participation in the program and start hiring.
  3. Register each new apprentice with your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority.
  4. Request payment and funds will be sent by electronic transfer.

To apply, you will need:

  • Your business’ legal name, address, and CRA business number (BN#);
  • The contact information (name, job title, email, phone) for the person submitting the application; and
  • The contact information, if different, for a person at the organization who is authorized to sign a legally binding agreement on behalf of the organization.

You will also be asked to specify:

  • The size of your business: micro (1-4 employees), small (5-99 employees), or medium (100-499 employees);
  • The eligible trade(s) in which you intend to hire new new apprentice(s); and
  • The number of apprentices you intend to hire through the program between the date we receive your application and March 31, 2024 (the maximum is two apprentices per fiscal year – April 1 to March 31).

Eligible employers

Small and medium-sized employers in all provinces and territories are eligible to participate in the program.

  • Small and medium-sized employers are businesses with 1 to 499 paid employees
  • Employers must have a Canada Revenue Agency business number (BN#) to apply
  • Employers must not have a signed contribution agreement with any other organization receiving funding under the Apprenticeship Service Program for the purpose of receiving a financial incentive

Eligible apprentices

  • Will be apprenticed in one of the 39 eligible trades listed below
  • Will be registered as an apprentice after the employer signs a contribution agreement confirming their participation in the program
  • Will be in their first year of registered apprenticeship training
  • May or may not have completed a pre-apprenticeship or pre-employment program
  • May or may not identify as a member of an equity-deserving group

IMPORTANT: Apprenticeships registered before a contribution agreement is signed DO NOT qualify as eligible hires for the purposes of the financial incentive. 

Eligible equity-deserving groups

When you hire a new apprentice who self-identifies as being part of one of the eligible equity-deserving groups, you would receive a $10,000 incentive.

Eligible equity-deserving groups for this program include:

  • Women
  • Indigenous people
  • Newcomers to Canada (residing for less than 10 years)
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Visible minorities (i.e., racialized communities)
  • 2SLGBTQI+ individuals

By hiring from these underrepresented groups in the trades, you not only diversify your workforce but also tap into a wider labour pool, enriching your team with varied experiences and perspectives.

Eligible trades

The 39 construction and manufacturing trades eligible for funding under this program are:

  • Boilermaker
  • Bricklayer
  • Cabinetmaker
  • Carpenter
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Construction Craft Worker
  • Construction Electrician
  • Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
  • Floorcovering Installer
  • Gasfitter A
  • Gasfitter B
  • Glazier
  • HEO Dozer
  • HEO Excavator
  • HEO TLB
  • Industrial Electrician
  • Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
  • Instrumentation and Control Technician
  • Insulator (Heat and Frost)
  • Ironworker Generalist
  • Ironworker Reinforcing
  • Ironworker S/O
  • Landscape Horticulturist
  • Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
  • Machinist
  • Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
  • Mobile Crane Operator
  • Painter and Decorator
  • Plumber
  • Powerline Technician
  • Refrigeration and AC Mechanic
  • Roofer
  • Sheet Metal Worker
  • Sprinkler Fitter
  • Steamfitter/Pipefitter
  • Tilesetter
  • Tool and Die Maker
  • Tower Crane Operator
  • Welder

Recruitment support

There’s huge potential to meet your employment needs by recruiting from groups that are under-represented in the trades. Plus, you would double your incentive!

Need help connecting to new talent? Our matching service pairs employers looking for talent with apprentices looking for work! Browse our list of employers currently looking for matches.

Next steps

To receive your payment, you must enrol and sign a participation agreement BEFORE hiring a new apprentice.

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Step 1

Enrol

Sign your participation agreement.

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Step 2

Hire

Register each new apprentice with your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority.

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Step 3

Collect

Request your payment before March 1, 2024 and it will be sent through an electronic money transfer.

Questions?

For questions, please consult our FAQ page. For assistance with your application, connect with our helpful staff trades@careerlauncher.ca or 343-451-6595. We look forward to hearing from you!

Looking to start a career in trades? 

Find an apprenticeship with paid, on-the-job training.

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