Workforce Development, Training, and Retention Grants Across Canada

Hiring is only half the battle. Across Canada, employers face challenges not just in recruiting workers, but also in training and keeping them. Governments have responded with workforce development, training, and retention grants. These grants help businesses build skills, reduce turnover, and attract workers. They do this through partnerships with training providers, industry groups, and local workforce organizations.

These programs are especially valuable for employers dealing with labour shortages, fast growth, or skills gaps in key roles.

How Workforce Partnerships Grants Support Training and Retention

Workforce development funding in Canada often comes through partnership-based programs. Instead of supporting just one company, governments focus on projects that involve several employers, industry associations, Indigenous organizations, or training institutions.

A common model is the Workforce Partnerships Grants – Workforce Attraction and Retention Partnerships. These grants support collaborative solutions to shared workforce problems.

What these grants typically fund

Across federal and provincial programs, eligible activities often include:

Employer-led training programs for new or existing workers
Upskilling or reskilling workers for changing job requirements
Initiatives that improve worker retention, such as onboarding systems or career pathways
Workforce attraction projects targeting underrepresented groups
Industry-wide training developed with colleges or sector councils

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility finder can help you quickly sort these programs by province, industry, and workforce need.

Key Workforce Development and Training Grants in Canada

Here are examples of active or recurring programs that support workforce development, training, and retention. Funding details may change by intake and province.

Productivité‑Compétences (Quebec)

Administrator: Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT)
Jurisdiction: Quebec
Funding type: Non‑repayable grant
Focus: Skills development for employed workers through collective projects

Productivité‑Compétences funds training projects submitted by organizations, such as employer groups or training promoters. Small and medium‑sized enterprises often join as partners in these collective projects.

Training must focus on workforce skills development
Funding is issued through periodic calls for projects
Eligible costs generally include training delivery and related expenses

Sector Council Program (Manitoba)

Administrator: Government of Manitoba
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Focus: Industry‑led workforce training

This program supports sector organizations that:

Identify labour gaps
Deliver short‑term training for workers
Work with employers to improve productivity and competitiveness

Employers usually take part through their sector council instead of applying directly.

Workforce Expansion Program (New Brunswick)

Administrator: Government of New Brunswick
Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
Focus: Workforce expansion and training initiatives

This program helps businesses that are growing their workforce and investing in training. Funding criteria change by intake and project scope.

Building UP (Yukon)

Administrator: Government of Yukon
Jurisdiction: Yukon
Focus: Labour market strengthening

Building UP supports projects that:

Connect employers with jobseekers
Improve workforce coordination at the community or sector level
Deliver services that strengthen the local labour market

Workforce Training and Employment – Self‑Employment (Manitoba)

Administrator: Government of Manitoba
Jurisdiction: Manitoba
Focus: Employment creation through self‑employment

While not a traditional retention grant, this program helps individuals start businesses that add jobs and support workforce participation.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility can differ by program, but most workforce partnership grants are open to:

Industry associations and sector councils
Non‑profit workforce organizations
Indigenous governments or organizations
Training institutions
Groups of employers applying together

Single for‑profit businesses may still benefit as partners, even if they are not the main applicant.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying as a solo business when a partnership is required
Many workforce grants need multiple employers or an intermediary organization.

Proposing generic training with no labour market link
Programs expect clear evidence of skills gaps or retention challenges.

Missing intake windows
Partnership grants often run on scheduled calls for projects, not continuous intake.

Ignoring reporting capacity
These grants usually require tracking outcomes, such as the number of workers trained or retained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are workforce development grants repayable?
Most are non‑repayable grants, especially those focused on training and skills development. Always check program terms before applying.

Q: Can small businesses access workforce partnership funding?
Yes, often as participants or partners in a larger project led by a sector group or training organization.

Q: Do these grants cover wages?
Some programs focus only on training costs, while others allow limited wage support tied to training delivery.

Q: How competitive are workforce attraction and retention grants?
They can be competitive, especially federal or province‑wide calls. Strong partnerships and clear labour market evidence improve success rates.

Q: Are these programs available every year?
Many run on recurring calls, but funding levels and timelines change annually.

Next Steps

Workforce development, training, and retention grants are most effective when you know which partnerships you qualify for and when funding opens. GrantHub helps you find active workforce and training programs across Canada that fit your business profile, location, and labour needs. Visit GrantHub to discover grants that support your workforce goals and stay ahead of deadlines.

Workforce Development, Training, and Retention Grants Across Canada