Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy
Funding for Inuit skills and employment development
Funding available
$ 70,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
This program supports the Inuit Labour Market Strategy through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, with maximum annual support of up to $70 million per initial recipient. It funds employment services, skills development, training, wrap-around supports, and capacity-building activities for Inuit organizations and communities.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 70,000,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Employment and career development services for Inuit clients.
- Skills development, training, and employment-related support.
- Capacity-building for Inuit service delivery organizations.
- Research, partnerships, and employer linkages supporting labour market services.
- Locally designed activities aligned with the program objectives.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit Inuit-controlled organizations
- Inuit governments and self-government entities
- Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations
- For-profit Inuit-controlled organizations as ultimate recipients
Eligible expenses
- Staff wages, benefits, and mandatory employment-related costs.
- Professional fees, training, travel, translation, and participant supports.
- Materials, supplies, tools, equipment, computers, and furniture.
- Overhead and administrative costs needed to deliver the agreement.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Inuit regions and communities, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit region
Selection criteria
- Alignment with program objectives.
- Impact on Inuit skills and employment outcomes.
- Capacity of the organization to deliver services.
- Risk level and reporting requirements, based on a joint capacity assessment.
How to apply
- Step 1: Confirm recipient type
- Identify whether the organization is an eligible initial recipient or ultimate recipient.
- Step 2: Engage with the Department
- Contribution agreements are negotiated with the Department of Employment and Social Development.
- New recipients may need to submit a change request and take part in a capacity readiness assessment.
- Step 3: Negotiate agreement
- Finalize the contribution agreement and related reporting requirements.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed through negotiated contribution agreements with the Department.
- New recipients are subject to an explicit change request and an impact evaluation.
- Capacity readiness assessment may be required for new recipients.
- Funding decisions are made by the Minister.
- Recipients must provide financial and performance reports according to the agreement.
Additional information
- For-profit organizations may be eligible only for non-commercial activities that do not aim to generate profit.
- Initial recipients may further distribute funding to ultimate recipients under contribution agreements.
- Flexible funding arrangements may apply to self-governing Inuit entities under multi-year agreements.
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market StrategySupports First Nations skills and employment development
- Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Urban and non-affiliated labour market streamSupports Indigenous employment and skills development initiatives
- Métis nation labour market funding stream — Indigenous Skills and Employment Training ProgramSupports Métis employment and skills development
Frequently Asked Questions about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy Program
What is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy?
This program supports the Inuit Labour Market Strategy through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, with maximum annual support of up to $70 million per initial recipient. It funds employment services, skills development, training, wrap-around supports, and capacity-building activities for Inuit organizations and communities.
How much funding can be received?
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy Funds up to $70,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy program?
To be eligible for the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy program, you must:
Eligible initial or ultimate recipient
Supports program objectives
Non-commercial if for-profit
What expenses are eligible under Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy?
Employment and career development services for Inuit clients.
Skills development, training, and employment-related support.
Capacity-building for Inuit service delivery organizations.
Research, partnerships, and employer linkages supporting labour market services.
Locally designed activities aligned with the program objectives.
Who can I contact for more information about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Where is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy available?
The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy program is available across Canada.
Is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Inuit Labour Market Strategy is a Grant and Funding