Get grant money to hire new employees with the Alberta Jobs Now program

The Alberta Jobs Now program will help eligible Alberta businesses and non-profit organizations hire new employees by providing grants to subsidize wages, fund training, or a combination of both.

The second intake of funding is now open (November 10, 2021) and will remain as such until all program funding is allocated.

How much funding can I apply for?

Eligible employers can:

• apply for a grant to offset salary or training costs, or both, equal to:
  • 25% of a new hire’s salary up to $25,000 per employee
  • 37.5% of the new hire's salary up to $37,500 per employee with a disability
• apply for up to 10 new hires for the second intake:
  • first intake: May 20 to July 23, 2021
  • second intake:  November 10 until funding is allocated
  • third intake: to be announced at a later date
• choose to have payments issued in 1 or 2 payments:
  • 1 payment: up to 100% of the grant after new hires have been employed for 52 weeks
  • 2 payments:
    • half of the eligible grant paid when the new hires have been employed for 3 months
    • the other half paid when the new hires have been employed for 52 weeks
    • New businesses and organizations established within 6 months prior to application will receive 25% of funding at 3 months and 75% at 52 weeks.

*Employers who hire persons with disabilities will receive a grant 1.5 times higher than the amount they would receive for other employees.

What is the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible, an organization must:

• be hiring for new or vacant positions in Alberta for at least 52 weeks
• provide safe working conditions, and be in good standing and compliance with the Employment Standards Code, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workers’ Compensation Act and all other applicable legislation and regulations
• have met or currently meet all obligations to the province under previous grant agreements

What types of organizations are eligible?

Private businesses or partnerships

• must have a valid Alberta Corporate Access Number (ACAN)
• must be located and operational in Alberta

Sole proprietors

• must have a valid trade name number
• must be registered in the Alberta Corporate Registry
• must be located and operational in Alberta
• with coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act must submit a Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB-Alberta) clearance letter
• in a WCB-Alberta exempt industry under the Workers’ Compensation Act must submit the following:
  - WCB-Alberta exempt industry letter, and
  - a copy of their federal payroll deductions or GST registration

Non-profit organizations

• must be registered or incorporated
• must have a valid ACAN, where applicable
• must be located and operational in Alberta

What types of organizations are not eligible?

• federal, provincial or municipal governments
• public sector organizations, such as public post-secondary institutions, schools, school boards, hospitals, health authorities, etc.
• political parties
• provincial or federal Crown agencies, boards, commissions or corporations
• First Nations – businesses owned by First Nations are eligible
• businesses and organizations that are not in operation for the 52-week duration of the grant

Who is considered to be an eligible new hire?

• a new hire of the employer
• a previous employee of the employer can be considered a new hire, if they have not been working for the employer applicant, part or full time for the past 90 days
• For the application intake starting November 10, 2021, new hires must be hired on or after program announcement date (May 19, 2021)
• The start date for new hires can be no longer than 90 calendar days after the application approval and new hire information should be submitted within 30 calendar days after the new hire’s start.
• a resident of Alberta and will be working in the province
• a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or protected persons under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, who is legally entitled to work in Canada.

Who is not considered to be an eligible new hire?

• previous employees who were purposefully terminated or laid off by the employer to receive the Alberta Jobs Now program grant
• company owners, directors or board members of the employer applicant or self-employed individuals cannot apply for the grant to fund themselves
• immediate family of the company owner or director/board member or self-employed individual:
  - immediate family members include, but are not limited to spouse, common-law partner, adult interdependent partner, child (biological, step, adopted), parent, sibling
• current and previous employees who have worked for the employer, in a part-time or full-time capacity, in the past 90 days
• any person who was a previous participant in the Alberta Jobs Now program for the same employer
• any person who is not a resident of or will not be working in Alberta
• contractors
• temporary foreign workers, or anyone temporarily working in Canada
• any person returning from any type of statutory leave from the employer applicant, for example, parental leave, medical leave, and more

What if I need to replace a new hire?

Under the Alberta Jobs Now Program, employers must hire Albertans for a minimum of 52 weeks in order to receive a wage and/or training subsidy. However, employers can replace original hires twice within the 52-week duration of the grant.

How do I apply?

Eligible organizations can apply by visiting the Alberta Jobs Now Portal Login.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Alberta Jobs Now Program, please contact one of our Small Business experts or complete the contact form below.