Youth Employment and Skills Program

Finding and keeping skilled labour is an ongoing challenge for farms and food processors across Canada, especially during peak seasons or when specialized skills are needed. The Youth Employment and Skills Program, delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, was created to help agricultural employers bring young people into the sector while offsetting a meaningful portion of hiring costs. Through this initiative, eligible producers, processors, and agri-food organizations could receive wage support covering roughly half of a youth employee’s salary, with total assistance reaching around fifteen thousand dollars per hire.

The program was designed to do more than simply reduce payroll expenses. It encouraged employers to create quality, skill-building roles tied to real agricultural projects, helping youth gain hands-on experience while strengthening the long-term workforce of the agri-food sector. Additional support was available in certain cases, such as when hiring youth facing barriers or when relocation was required, making it easier for employers to access talent beyond their immediate region. This made the program particularly valuable for operations in rural or remote areas.

While the current intake is closed, the Youth Employment and Skills Program remains a useful benchmark for understanding federal wage subsidy opportunities in agriculture. Business owners who want to be prepared for future intakes or explore similar programs can benefit from reviewing the full details and related funding options available through GrantHub.