Open
Source verified April 10, 2026
ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways
Get funding to hire youth professionals
Funding available
$ 12,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
The Environmental Employability Pathways Program is designed for youth aged 15 to 30 who have faced barriers in accessing the labor market, specifically within environmentally-related roles. Candidates must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or refugee status. For employers, eligible participants are small-medium sized Canadian-owned organizations or subsidiaries, municipal, provincial or territorial governments departments, or Indigenous organizations that can provide new, permanent, environmentally-related positions.
See full eligibility
Overview
Hire a part-time or full-time intern facing barriers and receive up to $12,000 to cover 50% of their salary, to develop their employability skills and obtain work experience that will prepare them to obtain and keep employment.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Youth (<40)
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
The Environmental Employability Pathways program facilitates the employment readiness for youth within Canada's labor market by supporting environmentally related roles and helping employers with wage subsidies. The program particularly targets creating new permanent positions for youth in the environmental sector.
- Subsidized wage funding for small to medium businesses hiring youth in new, permanent, environmentally-related positions.
- Placement opportunities for youth aged 15-30 in environmentally focused roles.
- Support for employers in recruiting and matching with pre-approved youth candidates.
- Provision of funding coverage for both full-time and part-time placements lasting from six weeks up to twelve months.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The Environmental Employability Pathways Program is designed for youth aged 15 to 30 who have faced barriers in accessing the labor market, specifically within environmentally-related roles. Candidates must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or refugee status. For employers, eligible participants are small-medium sized Canadian-owned organizations or subsidiaries, municipal, provincial or territorial governments departments, or Indigenous organizations that can provide new, permanent, environmentally-related positions.Who is not eligible
There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant:
- Large organizations are not eligible for the grant.
- Non-environmentally related businesses are not eligible for the grant.
Eligible expenses
Yes, eligible expenses for the Environmental Employability Pathways Program include participant salary support and participant supports of up to $2,000.
- Participant salary support
- Participant supports (up to $2,000)
Selection criteria
The Environmental Employability Pathways Program has evaluation and selection criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for funding.
- Applicants must be aged 15-30 and focus on environmentally related roles.
- Participants must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency status, or refugee status.
- Employers must offer new, permanent, environmentally-related positions in small to medium-sized Canadian-owned organizations or entities.
- Funding is available for full-time or part-time placements lasting 6 weeks to 12 months.
How to apply
- Step 1: Apply Online
- Complete the eligibility assessment and application on the ECO Canada website.
- Step 2: Get Approved
- Wait for an email notification to find out if you are pre-qualified to participate in the program.
- Step 3: Recruitment
- Candidates and employers must independently find their own placement.
- Utilize ECO Canada's Job Board as a resource for job postings and submitting resumes.
- Step 4: Secure Funding
- Confirm a match between the employer and a pre-approved candidate.
- Sign and return contract agreements within 15 days of issuance to secure funding.
- Step 5: Receive Funding
- Fill out reports throughout the placement period to enable the employer to receive the wage subsidy.
- Receive 50% wage coverage up to $12,000, plus potential supports for participants.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for the Environmental Employability Pathways Program:
- This program is part of the government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program.
- Both the employer and the candidate are required to fill out reports throughout the placement for the employer to receive the wage subsidy.
- The program status is currently closed, and interested parties are encouraged to subscribe to ECO Canada’s newsletter for updates on future funding opportunities.
- Program funding is aimed at supporting environmentally-related roles.
- Participants in the program need to be between the ages of 15 to 30.
Frequently Asked Questions about the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways Program
What is the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways?
Hire a part-time or full-time intern facing barriers and receive up to $12,000 to cover 50% of their salary, to develop their employability skills and obtain work experience that will prepare them to obtain and keep employment.
How much funding can be received?
ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $12,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways program?
To be eligible for the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways program, you must:
The employer must be a small-medium sized organization.
The employer must be Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidiary, municipal government, provincial or territorial government department, or Indigenous organization.
The offered position must be a new, permanent, and environmentally-related job.
What expenses are eligible under ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways?
The Environmental Employability Pathways program facilitates the employment readiness for youth within Canada's labor market by supporting environmentally related roles and helping employers with wage subsidies. The program particularly targets creating new permanent positions for youth in the environmental sector. Subsidized wage funding for small to medium businesses hiring youth in new, permanent, environmentally-related positions.
Placement opportunities for youth aged 15-30 in environmentally focused roles.
Support for employers in recruiting and matching with pre-approved youth candidates.
Provision of funding coverage for both full-time and part-time placements lasting from six weeks up to twelve months.
Where is the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways available?
The ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways program is available across Canada.
Is the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways a grant, loan, or tax credit?
ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways is a Wage Subsidies And Interns
Who are the financial supporters of the ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways?
ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways is funded by ECO Canada (ECO)