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B.C. Labour Market Programs Inventory

Look into B.C. programs and services that help people gain skills and find employment. Check if you qualify under their eligibility requirements.

For example, do you need to be an Employment Insurance client? On Income Assistance? Unemployed, but not on assistance of any kind? Do you belong to a group of people for whom specialized programs are available (e.g., youth, older workers, Aboriginal people, immigrants or people with disabilities)?

Here are some tips for using the labour market programs inventory:

  • Pay close attention to the requirements in each program's "Eligibility" column to help you find the services or programs that are right for you.
  • Use the search filters at the top to search by keyword and location. They'll help you more quickly find the information most useful to you.
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  • Click the "details" button to open/close details on each program.
  • Sort alphabetically by clicking the arrows next to "Program".
Program Description
details Targeted Skills Shortage Pilot Program Provides assistance to eligible employers in targeted sectors to develop training plans and purchase training for eligible employees.

Assistance for eligible employers to:

  • determine appropriate employee training
  • identify a suitable training provider, and
  • pay for identified employee training (up to $1,500 per eligible employee to a maximum of $7,500 per employer)

Eligible employers include:

  • Small business and non-profit organizations operating in a targeted sector:
    • Professional, scientific & technical services
    • Health care & social assistance
    • Manufacturing
    • Transportation & warehousing
  • For more on employer eligibility criteria, please contact service provider via website below

Eligible employees include:

  • Employed by "eligible employer", but low-skilled
    • Low-skilled means lacking any post-secondary education towards a university degree AND
    • lacking high-school diploma (or equivalent), OR
    • Employed with high-school diploma (or equivalent) but lacking recognized certification
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Living in B.C.
  • Not a student
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
details Youth Skills BC – Entrepreneurship Pilot Program Helps unemployed youth enhance entrepreneurial, employability and occupational skills through development and implementation of a formal business plan.
  • Support to develop formal business plan, including training
  • Mentorship with local business leader/expert
  • Customized financial assistance for personal supports, business seed funding, an education grant, and/or the purchase of training - up to $5,000/participant
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • 15 to 29 years old
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  
details Job Options BC Program helps prepare unemployed people who are non-Employment Insurance clients for new employment or further training.
Duration: Four to six weeks of facilitated group work followed by an additional four to six weeks of work experience.
  • Assessment
  • Life skills
  • Job-finding club
  • Employability skills (e.g., job search, basic skills upgrading, computer training, and short term skill training)
  • Work experience and/or further training
  • May include up to six months of additional support to gain employment
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
details Skills Connect for Immigrants Employment bridging to help skilled and lesser-skilled immigrants to obtain jobs that fully use their foreign qualifications and work experience.
Duration: up to 12 months

Employment bridging for immigrants:

  • Assessment of skills, qualifications and experience
  • Career assessment and career planning
  • Job-related skill enhancement, including workplace language upgrading
  • Enhancement of qualifications and experience to B.C. labour market standards
  • Workplace practice, including mentorship

Immigrants who face challenges entering the labour market, for example:

  • Lack of Canadian work experience
  • Insufficient language skills
  • Qualifications not recognized
  • Difficulty navigating an unfamiliar labour market
  • Lack of employment networks
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
details Immigrants in Trades Training Projects help immigrants access trades training and apprenticeship programs in high demand occupations and sectors of the B.C. economy.
Duration: up to 18 months

May include:

  • Job coaching and assessment by qualified trades people
  • Trades training
  • Matching of job-ready immigrants and employers
  • Workplace language, essential skills and trade-related technical skills
  • Career planning, workplace orientation, and mentorship

Immigrants who are:

  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients OR
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, recognized post secondary education towards a university degree, or essential skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy and document use)
  • Lower Mainland
  • Surrey
 Visit the Website
details Aboriginal Apprenticeship Strategy Projects help prepare Aboriginal people for success in industry training programs in B.C.
Duration: up to 12 months
  • Enhanced entry-level programs for Aboriginal people
  • Integrates literacy, numeracy and other essential skills into technical training
  • Trades training
  • Job placement
  • Certification

Aboriginal people who are:

  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients OR
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, recognized post secondary education towards a university degree, or essential skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy and document use)
  • Abbotsford
  • Harrison Lake
  • Nanaimo
  • Powell River
  • Surrey
  • Victoria
  • Campbell River
  • Lower Mainland
  • Old Massett
  • Squamish Nation
  • Vancouver
Visit the Website
details Women in Trades Training Projects increase the participation of women in industry training programs in B.C.
Duration: 18 months maximum

Trades training for women:

  • Needs/skills assessment
  • Essential skills and practical skilled trades training
  • Registration in a foundation program and as an apprentice
  • Job matching
  • Additional supports may include childcare and mentoring

Women who are:

  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients OR
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, recognized post secondary education towards a university degree, or essential skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy and document use)
  • Kelowna
  • Okanagan
  • Prince George
  • Vancouver
  • Lower Mainland
  • New Westminster
  • South Vancouver Island
Visit the Website
details Women’s Mentorship Program Provides mentorship to assist women to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Duration: up to six months

May include:

  • Matching women with experienced, successful mentors
  • Guidance and encouragement to access employment/find a job
  • Some training options available

Women over 18 years old who are:

  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients OR
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, or recognized post secondary education towards a university degree
details SkillsPlus - Essential Skills Program Supports small and mid-sized businesses to enhance the essential skills of current employees.
Duration: up to one year
  • Essential skills assessment and training
  • Essential Skills are: reading, document use, numeracy, writing, spoken communication, working with others, continuous learning, thinking skills, computer skills
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, recognized post secondary education towards a university degree, or essential skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy and document use)
  • Employees are selected to participate by their employer
  • Campbell River and surrounding area
  • Greater Victoria area, including Sooke
  • Lower Mainland/Southwest BC area
  • Nanaimo and surrounding area
 Visit the Website
details Workforce Exploration Skills Training (WEST) Program Tuition-free skills training for mining, exploration, and other resource industries delivered in a hands-on learning environment at a remote bush camp.
  • 7 weeks of tuition-free skills training delivered by Northwest Community College/li>
  • Skill and safety certifications/li>
  • Prepares participants for entry-level employment in mining, exploration and other resource industries/li>
  • Job search assistance for this sector
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  • Training is delivered at a remote bush camp located near Smithers
Visit the Website
details Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) Provides support, training and work experience to unemployed people pursuing employment in a trade or trades-related occupation.

Supports include:

  • Skills assessment
  • Connections to employers
  • Access to training and/or certification
  • Job coaching
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
details BladeRunners Provides unemployed youth who have barriers to employment with job readiness skills, work experience/on-the-job training and ongoing support.
Duration: up to 18 months

Employment-related training and support for youth:

  • Life skills training
  • Job readiness skills
  • Certification courses (e.g., WHMIS, WCB Awareness, First Aid Level 1)
  • Job coaching and support 24 hr/day, 7 days/wk
  • Workplace communication
  • Youth with barriers to employment, between 15 and 30 years old
  • Courtenay
  • Ladysmith
  • Port Alberni
  • Surrey
  • Vancouver
  • Whistler
  • Duncan
  • Nanaimo
  • Prince George
  • Tofino
  • Victoria
Visit the Website
details Aboriginal Training for Employment Program Helps unemployed Aboriginal people transition to employment through job-related training and support services.
Duration: up to one year
  • Group and individual programming
  • Assessment, life skills and employability skills (e.g., job search, basic skills upgrading, computer training and short-term skill training)
  • Further skills training and/or work experience (employer, community-based or volunteer placement)
  • May include up to six months of additional support to gain employment

Aboriginal people who are:

  • Aboriginal
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  • Barriere
  • Cache Creek
  • Chase
  • Courtenay
  • Fort St. James
  • Fraser Valley
  • Kwadacha
  • Musqueam First Nation
  • North Vancouver
  • Port Alberni
  • Powell River
  • Richmond
  • Sliammon
  • Takla Landing
  • Tsay Keh Dene
  • Yekooche
  • Black Pine
  • Campbell River
  • Clinton
  • Enderby
  • Fort St. John
  • Kamloops
  • Mackenzie
  • Nemiah Valley
  • Omineca region
  • Port McNeil
  • Prince George
  • Savona
  • Squamish First Nation
  • Tofino
  • Vancouver
Visit the Website
details Aboriginal Business Entrepreneurship Skills Training (BEST) Self-employment training series for Aboriginal people.
Duration: varies

Self-employment training for Aboriginal people:

  • 12-session entrepreneurship training series designed to help participants identify viable business ideas and determine their feasibility.
  • May also include help to conduct market research, write a business plan, and explore financing options.

Aboriginal people who are:

  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients OR
  • Employed but lacking high school diploma, recognized certification, or recognized post secondary education towards a university degree
  • Throughout B.C.
Visit the Website
details Employment Skills Access Initiative Provides tuition-free, group-based training at public post-secondary institutions around B.C. to prepare eligible participants for entry/re-entry into the labour force.
Duration: 3 weeks to 9 months (varies by institution and training program)
  • Training programs offered through this initiative are based on local/regional labour market priorities.
  • In most cases, training programs prepare participants for entry-level employment in an industry, sector or occupation currently experiencing, or expected to experience, a labour or skills shortage.
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student at time of enrolment

Contact the institution(s) in your area for more information about ESA training programs:

 For ESA training programs details by region and post-secondary institution, click here
details Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) Provides unemployed older workers with a range of assistance to achieve employment.
Duration: up to 16 weeks (length depends on service provider)

Employment-related support and training for older workers. May include:

  • Employment services (job counselling, job finding clubs, resume/interview, skills upgrading)
  • Prior learning assessment, specific skills training, certification (based on labour market demands)
  • Training allowance
  • Work experience
  • Matching workers to jobs/ employers
  • Wage subsidy
  • Assistance to become self-employed
  • Post-project follow up/ mentoring
  • Unemployed older workers between 55 and 64
  • Some exceptions may be made for those 50 to 54 and 65 and over
  • Priority given to:
    • those not in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits
    • those displaced due to industry downsizing or closure
    • those who were employed in a business negatively affected by the economic downturn
  • 100 Mile House
  • Castlegar
  • Courtenay
  • Creston
  • Fort St. James
  • Hope
  • Kamloops
  • Midway
  • Nakusp
  • Port Alberni
  • Prince George
  • Queen Charlotte City
  • Revelstoke
  • Sooke
  • Squamish
  • Williams Lake
  • Campbell River
  • Chilliwack
  • Cowichan
  • Fernie
  • Grand Forks
  • Invermere
  • Kimberley
  • Mission
  • Powell River
  • Prince Rupert
  • Quesnel
  • Smithers
  • Sechelt
  • Terrace
  • Vanderhoof
Visit the Website
details British Columbia Employment Program (BCEP) Helps Income Assistance (IA) clients to increase job and life skills, enhance employability and become employed and independent.
Duration: 7-15 months maximum

Employment-related training and support for Income Assistance clients:

  • Job club/group job search program
  • Directed work search
  • Individual services and supports
  • Life skills
  • Skills development
  • Short Term Certificate training
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) Assists persons with disabilities to achieve economic and social potential to the fullest extent possible. Program is voluntary and highly individualized.
Duration: No maximum
  • Pre-employment services (disability management, job readiness, employability skills, work experience or simulation)
  • Employment-based services (full-time or part-time employment, self-employment, work placement with training, volunteer placement)
  • Financial assistance with tuition fees, disability and other supports
  • Income/Disability Assistance clients, and persons with disabilities who are not Ministry of Housing and Social Development clients are both eligible
  • Primary barrier to employment is a medically verifiable disability
  • Not currently in another MHSD employment program
  • If employed, must be in employment crisis
  • B.C. resident (either landed immigrant or Canadian citizen)
  • Eligible for specialized community-based programs if have:
    • neurological/brain injury- learning impairment
    • developmental disability- physical or mobility disability- dual diagnoses (e.g., mental health and other significant diagnosis/barrier)
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Bridging Employment Program (Bridging) Helps abused women and former sex trade workers who have experienced violence and/or abuse to overcome barriers to independence or sustainable employment.
Duration: 18 months maximum

Support and employment-related training for women:

  • Personal plan development
  • Healing and support (e.g, peer support and referrals)
  • Personal counselling
  • Personal development (e.g., anger management, parenting, self-esteem)
  • Employment-related skills (e.g., job search, resume, volunteer placement, occupational skills)
  • Educational assistance (e.g., literacy, ESL, GED preparation)
  • Follow-up services
  • Financial supports
  • Income Assistance clients and non-MHSD clients are both eligible
  • Females who have experienced violence and/or abuse
  • Males and females seeking to leave the sex trade who have experienced violence and/or abuse, as well as youth who have been sexually exploited
  • Not currently in another Ministry of Housing and Social Development funded employment program (if receiving hardship assistance, can only be due to lack of ID or pending immigrant status)
  • No active health or safety alerts
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Community Assistance Program (CAP) Provides people with significant barriers to independence/employment with the opportunity to enhance their quality of life and to participate more fully in their communities (employment may or may not result).
Duration: 28 months maximum (potential 6-month extension)

Support services for people with significant barriers, disabilities:

  • In-depth assessment
  • One-on-one support and referral
  • Personal counselling
  • Life skills
  • Follow-up services
  • Financial supports
  • Significant barriers to independence and not appropriate for other programming (e.g., BCEP)
  • Person with a disability, victim of abuse, etc. for whom other programs are not available/suitable
  • Not currently in another MHSD-funded employment program (if receiving hardship assistance, can only be due to lack of ID or pending immigrant status)
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Employment Assistance Services (EAS) Helps unemployed individuals prepare for, obtain and maintain employment.
Duration: 12 weeks maximum (in most circumstances)
  • Employment resource centre
  • Needs assessment
  • Employment counselling
  • Diagnostic assessment (testing)
  • Return to Work Action Plan
  • Employment workshops, job club/group job search program
  • Case management
  • Job placement
  • Follow-up
  • Financial supports
  • Unemployed
  • Canadian citizen or legally entitled to work in Canada
  • In some cases, employed people who are facing loss of employment
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Skills Development (SD) Provides funding to people who require skills training to obtain employment. All training must lead to a certificate, diploma or degree. Financial assistance is negotiated based on individual client need.
Duration: Three years maximum
  • Financial supports
  • Client selects, arranges and pays for the program
  • Employment-related skills training, adult basic education, second language, certification course (e.g., WHMIS, CPR, industrial first aid), university (specific occupation or final year)
  • Unemployed ("insured participant") as defined by Section 58 of the EI Act
  • Active EI claimants must also receive approval under Section 25 of the EI Act
  • Assessment and Return to Work Action Plan with case manager
  • Approved employment-related training program
  • Normally must make a financial contribution toward training cost
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Skills Development–Apprentices Provides assistance to apprentices to complete their technical training (classroom) component of their apprenticeship program and attain certification and ultimately Red Seal endorsement.
Duration:Six to eight weeks training institute attendance
  • Financial supports while attending classroom component of apprenticeship for technical training toward certification
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Self Employment (SE) Helps unemployed people to create their own job by starting a business. Provides financial assistance and entrepreneurial skills to support business start-up.
Duration: 52 weeks maximum
  • Financial supports
  • Assessment of business concept
  • Business planning
  • Entrepreneurship /self-employment training
  • Individual coaching
  • Canadian citizens or permanent residents legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Unemployed ("insured participant") as defined by Section 58 of the EI Act
  • Active EI claimants must also receive approval under Section 25 of the EI Act
  • Assessment and Return to Work Action Plan with case manager
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Targeted Wage Subsidies (TWS) Helps unemployed people enhance their skills/employability through work experience with employers who receive a subsidy to hire them. Supports unemployed EI clients with foreign credentials to gain Canadian work experience.
Duration: 52 weeks maximum
  • Work experience through job placement to enhance skills and employability/access employment
  • Financial assistance to employer toward wages
  • Financial supports for job-related costs may be provided to the worker
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) Provides recent work experience and additional skills to add to resume, toward obtaining long-term employment.
Duration: 52 weeks maximum
  • Meaningful work experience on partnership projects run by community groups, business, and/or other levels of government
  • Employment program adds skills and experience toward obtaining a long-term job
  • Financial supports
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Labour Market Partnerships Supports employers, employee/employer associations and communities to develop/implement strategies to address labour force adjustment/human resource requirements in partnership. Does not provide financial assistance directly to individuals.
Duration: N/A

Financial assistance:

  • Funding for employers, employee and employer associations, and communities
  • May cover related research, development of HR strategies, promotion of best practices, coordination of community-based approaches, short-term adjustment services for workers facing layoff, and economic (employment) development plans
  • Must focus on identified labour market issue and be likely to have a positive impact on labour market
  • Must involve partnerships
  • Must develop/implement strategies for labour force adjustments/human resource requirements
  • Must have defined start and finish dates and not be part of sponsor's day-to-day operations
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Employer Sponsored Training Program (EST) Helps employees acquire skills that will allow them to remain employed, or if they are laid off, that will shorten the period of unemployment. Does not provide financial assistance directly to individuals
Duration: One year maximum (potential 2-year extension)
  • Financial assistance to employers to support approved skills training activities for employees who are facing loss of employment
  • Eligible employers include:
    • private sector businesses
    • not-for-profit organizations
    • municipal governments
    • band or tribal councils
    • cooperatives, and
    • public health and educational institutions affected by reduced business activity, market changes and/or new legislative or regulatory requirements for workers
  • Likely to close or downsize operations or must implement changes in workplace that will result in layoffs
  • Training activities must clearly prevent employee job loss or provide skills that will shorten duration of unemployment
  • Must make financial contribution (normally at least 50% of expenses associated with EST activities)
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website
In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867
Outside B.C. call: 604 660-2421
E-mail address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
details Youth Skills BC – Workplace Pilot Program Helps unemployed youth to enhance their skills/employability through work experience with employers who receive an incentive to hire them and funding to train them.
  • $2,000 Hiring Incentive to hire an eligible youth between the ages of 15 and 29, for eligible BC employers
  • Additional $1,000 Training Fund available to purchase training for the new employee
  • Support to develop a training plan for the newly hired youth also available
  • Unemployed, non-Employment Insurance clients
  • 15 to 29 years old
  • Legally entitled to work in Canada
  • Not a student
  • Not participating in another Labour Market Agreement (LMA) program
  • Throughout B.C.
 Visit the Website

Definitions

  • Employment Insurance or EI Administered by the federal government, Employment Insurance provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills.
  • EI Client An unemployed individual as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means an individual for whom:
    1. an unemployment benefit period has been established or has ended within the 36 months (3 years) prior to the date of requesting assistance; or
    2. a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within the 60 months (5 years) prior to the date of requesting assistance. The individual remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and is now seeking to re-enter the labour force.
  • Low Skilled Low skilled is defined as those individuals who do not have:
    1. a high school diploma, GED or equivalent; or
    2. a recognized certification (such as a trades certificate, class 1 driver’s license, or commercial diver certificate); or
    3. any recognized post-secondary education towards a university degree.
    In some programs, the definition of low skilled may also include those individuals who have low levels of literacy and essential skills.