Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) Program
Latest source updateLast Update: September 24, 2026Latest change: The GTO guidelines now add a first-year 10% subsidy for equity-deserving hires, expand priority-sector guidance, and update application and approval instructions.View change
Eligible applicants for the Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program include Nova Scotia employers who fall into specific categories. Applicants can apply under either the GTO Grow or GTO Innovate streams, depending on their circumstances.- For GTO Grow: - Small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. - Start-up companies incorporated within two years of the application date. - Social enterprises, non-profit organizations, or registered charities with recognized standing. - Employers must hire a recent graduate into a new, permanent, full-time position paying at least $37,500 annually, related to the graduate's field of study.- For GTO Innovate: - For-profit businesses that employ no more than 200 full-time employees. - Employers must hire a recent master's or PhD graduate for an innovation-focused job paying at least $60,000 annually.Both streams offer an additional 10% subsidy in the first year if the graduate hired belongs to certain underrepresented or minority groups. Graduate candidates must have completed a post-secondary program within one year prior to starting work, and the position must not receive other government wage funding. Apprentices in registered trades are not eligible for this program.
Overview
This funding covers up to 35% of the annual salaries for new graduate hires.
At a glance
Funding available
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Optimize production processes
- Up to 25% of project cost
Eligible candidates
- All industries
- Nova Scotia
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Social economy enterprise
- For-profit business
- All revenue ranges
- 200 employees maximum
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Youth (<40)
- Women
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Minority groups
- All structures
- Provincial
Next Steps
Availability timeline
Activities funded
The Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program encourages activities focused on hiring recent graduates in Nova Scotia, aiming to strengthen the workforce and promote innovation. The eligible activities are centered on creating new, full-time, permanent roles tailored to recent graduates and supporting innovation-focused positions.
- Hiring recent graduates for new, permanent, full-time positions that align with their field of study.
- Creating innovation-focused jobs for recent masters or PhD graduates, ensuring that at least half of their work time is dedicated to innovation activities such as applied research and product development.
Documents Needed
- A T4 Summary or another document that shows the total number of employees.
- A Graduate Information Form.
- A copy of the graduate’s degree or diploma, or a letter from the institution showing the date requirements were completed.
- A signed copy of the employment agreement or letter of offer of employment.
- An Innovation Plan to describe the job you plan to fill.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants for the Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program include Nova Scotia employers who fall into specific categories. Applicants can apply under either the GTO Grow or GTO Innovate streams, depending on their circumstances.- For GTO Grow: - Small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. - Start-up companies incorporated within two years of the application date. - Social enterprises, non-profit organizations, or registered charities with recognized standing. - Employers must hire a recent graduate into a new, permanent, full-time position paying at least $37,500 annually, related to the graduate's field of study.- For GTO Innovate: - For-profit businesses that employ no more than 200 full-time employees. - Employers must hire a recent master's or PhD graduate for an innovation-focused job paying at least $60,000 annually.Both streams offer an additional 10% subsidy in the first year if the graduate hired belongs to certain underrepresented or minority groups. Graduate candidates must have completed a post-secondary program within one year prior to starting work, and the position must not receive other government wage funding. Apprentices in registered trades are not eligible for this program.
Who is not eligible
The GTO program guidelines specify certain restrictions on eligibility primarily related to the status of the company and receipt of other funding. However, specific types of companies or industries that cannot apply are not explicitly listed beyond these conditions.
- Employers receiving other government wage funding for the same position.
- Employers intending to hire apprentices in registered trades, as a separate START program is available for apprentices.
Eligible expenses
- A portion of the salary for recent graduate hires.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is available to companies and organizations located within the province of Nova Scotia. Its primary aim is to bolster local workforce development and retain young professionals in the region.
- Businesses located in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Selection criteria
The Graduate to Opportunity program in Nova Scotia has specific evaluation and selection criteria for applicants.
- The graduate you hire must have completed a post-secondary program within 1 year of their first day of work.
- The program can't consider graduate-employees who have been working for the employer on a permanent basis before the GTO application is approved.
- Employers must not be eligible for other government wage funding for the position.
- Apprentices in registered trades are not eligible for the program.
How to apply
- Applications for the program are made through the Labour Market Program Support System (LaMPSS).
- If you are registered, apply for GTO Grow and GTO Innovate using their respective application forms on the GTO website.
- If you need to register, clicking the application links will take you to an access request form, and you will proceed to the application form once you have provided your organization details.
- Once you have selected a graduate, submit the Graduate Information Form, a copy of the graduate’s degree or diploma, and a signed employment agreement or letter of offer of employment within 10 days of the start date.
- You must also send a T4 Summary or another document that shows the total number of employees.
Processing and Agreement
- An Agreement Manager assesses your application after submission, and decisions are normally made within 10 days; missing or incomplete documentation may extend this time.
- If approved, you will receive an email with the decision, your Agreement Manager, and your agreement number.
- Once the graduate’s eligibility is confirmed, a funding agreement is issued for you to sign.
- At the 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month mark, log in to LaMPSS and make a Financial Report to upload the graduate-employee’s pay stubs.
- At the 6- and 18-month mark, complete the employer survey and have the graduate complete the employee survey.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The program provides an additional 10% salary subsidy in the first year for hiring graduates from certain underrepresented groups.
- The graduate must not have been employed by the employer on a permanent basis before the GTO application approval.
- The application review process usually takes about 2 weeks.
- Employers must create or access a LaMPSS Account to apply online.