Many Quebec employers face the same challenge. You need new skills in your business, but layoffs would hurt productivity and morale. Quebec’s workforce training measures are designed for this exact situation. They help you upskill current employees so you can adapt, stay competitive, and keep people working.
One of the main tools is the Workforce Training Measure offered by the Gouvernement du Québec through the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. It supports training that improves performance and job retention, rather than replacing workers.
The Workforce Training Measure supports employers who invest in skill development for existing staff. The focus is clear: training must help keep people employed and strengthen your workforce.
According to the program guidelines, the following organizations are eligible:
Your organization must be legally established and operating in Quebec.
To qualify, the training must meet all of these conditions:
Examples can include technical training, process improvements, digital skills, or role-specific certifications, as long as they are job-related.
This measure provides repayable financial assistance, not a non-repayable grant. Key points to understand:
Because this is repayable, it works best for businesses that expect measurable productivity or revenue gains from training.
Instead of reducing staff when skills no longer match business needs, this measure encourages you to:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter Quebec training programs by industry and organization type in seconds, especially if you are comparing repayable and non-repayable options.
Assuming it’s a non-repayable grant
This program is repayable. Treat it like a structured loan tied to training outcomes, not free funding.
Proposing training that is too general
Training must be directly related to job duties. Broad personal development courses are unlikely to qualify.
Not showing how skills transfer internally
The government expects training to benefit more than one employee. Document how knowledge will be shared.
Ignoring cash flow planning
Because repayment is required, you should confirm your business can absorb repayments once the training is complete.
Q: Is the Workforce Training Measure only for large employers?
No. Small and medium-sized businesses, non-profits, and even self-employed workers in Quebec can apply if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Q: Does the program support training for existing employees?
Yes. The measure is specifically designed to upskill current employees to improve performance and retention.
Q: How much funding can my business receive?
There is no fixed maximum published. Funding depends on your training project, workforce size, and organizational profile.
Q: Is this funding taxable?
Because it is repayable, taxes may work differently than for grants. You should confirm details with your accountant.
Q: Can non-profit organizations apply for this measure?
Yes. Non-profit organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and training support programs across Canada — including Quebec workforce measures — so you can quickly see which ones match your business profile.
If you are comparing options or planning longer-term workforce investments, these guides may help:
Quebec’s workforce training measures make it possible to adapt your business without cutting jobs. The key is choosing training that clearly improves performance and supports long-term employment. As you explore your options, GrantHub can help you identify which Quebec training programs align with your industry, organization type, and growth plans.
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