The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 program year. Applications will be accepted between February 27, 2023 and March 27, 2023.
The Youth Employment and Skills Program will contribute approximately $13 million in wage subsidies to employers who hire youth (between the age of 15 and 30 inclusive) for agricultural jobs. Projects may start as early as April 1, 2023 and end no later than March 31, 2024.
Applications from Indigenous applicants will be prioritized for the 2023-2024 program year. The program will continue to encourage applicants to hire youth facing employment barriers, however it is not a requirement for eligibility. The list of employment barriers is as follows:
- Indigenous
- Living with a disability (physical, mental health-related or learning disability)
- Racialized youth (formerly visible minority)
- Recent newcomer to Canada
- 2SLGBTQQIA+
- Person living in an Official Languages Minority Community (OLMC)
- Residing in a remote, northern and/or fly-in community
- Living in a low income household
- Single parent
- Early school leaver of high school
To apply, visit their website and complete and submit the application form with the required documents. An initial target of five applications per applicant has been set for the 2023-2024 program year, however, this target may increase or decrease depending on the actual number of applications received relative to available funding. AAFC reserves the right to limit the number of approved projects per applicant so that funding can be equitably distributed.
Application intake will close midnight EST on March 27, 2023.
