Closed
Source verified August 10, 2026
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
Supports key sector workforce needs
Funding available
$ 5,000,000 - $ 50,000,000
Deadline
March 31, 2024
Location
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Eligible applicants for this grant included not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, municipal governments, Indigenous organizations (such as band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities), and provincial or territorial government bodies, including institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations. Applicants must also have demonstrated the capacity and readiness to quickly establish a project, shown in-depth knowledge of skills issues in a sector or multiple sectors, and built established partnerships with national, provincial, and/or regional sectoral stakeholders.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program is a contribution program for eligible organizations with funding from $5,000,000 to $50,000,000 to help key sectors address current and emerging workforce needs. It focuses on training and reskilling, employer solutions, equity-deserving groups, and creative approaches to labour market challenges.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Gatineau
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Hospitals and Rehabilitation
- Other Health Services
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
- Professional Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Training and reskilling workers, including curriculum and training tool development, flexible training models, online courses, job placements, work-integrated learning opportunities, wage subsidies, and cross-sectoral training.
- Solutions for employers, including recruitment, retention, capacity-building, employer networks, partnerships or consortia, and sector-specific strategies.
- Sector-wide standards and tools, including research and forecasting, occupational standards, job matching tools, skills recognition and certification systems, and educational or training material.
- Creative solutions, including innovative approaches to improve resiliency and adaptability, preparing workers and workplaces for emerging technologies, and scaling up pilot project results.
Documents Needed
- Completed application form (PDF format)
- Completed Budget detail template (PDF format)
- Letter from partner(s)
- If you do not have a CRA business number, charity registration number, or not-for-profit registration number, provide one of the following: a copy of letters of patents, articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association, rules, by-laws, or constitution; or, if not incorporated, a copy of your rules, bylaws, council resolutions, or constitution.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants for this grant included not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, municipal governments, Indigenous organizations (such as band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities), and provincial or territorial government bodies, including institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations. Applicants must also have demonstrated the capacity and readiness to quickly establish a project, shown in-depth knowledge of skills issues in a sector or multiple sectors, and built established partnerships with national, provincial, and/or regional sectoral stakeholders.
Who is not eligible
- Organizations not invited by Employment and Social Development Canada for the solicited call
Eligible expenses
- Overhead costs, including costs related to central administrative functions of the recipient organization that are drawn upon to support agreement activities, up to 15% of the total Department of ESDC financial support for the project.
- Materials and supplies; the purchase or rental of tools, equipment, computers and furniture; wages and mandatory employment-related costs; professional fees (consultants, research, audit, translation); training and professional development for staff; honorary costs limited to industry standards; hospitality costs; travel costs; printing and communication; computer services, library expenses, research and evaluation costs, and collection and analysis of data.
- Digitization costs, such as adapting existing training, curricula, and other resources to an online platform.
- Wraparound support costs related to participation in project activities, such as temporary accommodation costs, temporary childcare costs, transportation costs to and from project activities, and expenses related to specialized services, arrangements or equipment.
- Participants’ wage and training subsidies, completion bonuses or other incentives.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Human resources tools developed solely for one organization’s use
- Capital improvements, such as the construction or renovation of buildings
- Development of products that only one organization would use
- Duplication of previous or existing products/programs
- Regular ongoing operational activities of an organization including administrative overhead not related to the SWSP project
Eligible geographic areas
- National - with project activities occurring in at least 3 provinces/territories (PT)
- Regional - where project activities occur in a province/territory, major economic hub, or key sector-based cluster
Selection criteria
- Organizational capacity, including sector knowledge, partnerships, recent experience, and governance structures.
- Project objectives, including the policy priority area selected, the issue addressed, and diversity and inclusion measures for equity-deserving groups.
- Project activities, including the activity type(s), clear descriptions, feasible timelines, and partner involvement.
- Project results, including specific, concrete and measurable outcomes and plans to gather, measure, and report results.
- Cost effectiveness, including a brief justification and reasonable costs that support project activities.
How to apply
- Gather your supporting documents and information, including the completed application form, completed Budget detail template, and letter from partner(s).
- Decide how to apply: online, email or mail.
- Apply online by creating a Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account, reading the applicant guide, and completing the Budget detail template.
- Apply by email by reading the applicant guide, completing the Application for funding (EMP5523) and Budget detail template, signing the appropriate section, and sending the documents to PSMS_OUVERT-SWSP_OPEN@servicecanada.gc.ca.
- Apply by mail by reading the applicant guide, completing the Application for funding (EMP5523) and Budget detail template, and printing, signing and mailing the documents to Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, Coordination Unit Mailstop 402, National Grants & Contributions Delivery Centre (ESDC), 140 Promenade du Portage Phase IV 4th Floor, Gatineau QC K1A 0J9.
Processing and Agreement
- You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt after online or email submission.
- By mail, you will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 21 calendar days.
- You can only start your project activities after we have approved your project and signed a funding agreement.
- We can only pay for activities that start once a funding agreement is signed.
- If we select your project, we will ask you to submit a letter confirming the cash or in-kind contribution from a source other than us.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Organizations in Quebec must comply with specific conditions under An Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30) before signing agreements with the Government of Canada.
- Successful projects are expected to commence activities quickly, within two months after the start of the project, especially for post-pandemic recovery initiatives.
- There is an expectation for projects to have in-kind or cash contributions amounting to at least 10% of total project costs, except for healthcare sector projects.
- Projects need to show how they will increase participation of equity-deserving groups through embedded diversity and inclusion strategies.
- Equity-deserving groups targeted include women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, Black Canadians, other racialized communities, newcomers, and LGBTQ2 communities.
- The program encourages collaboration with national, provincial, or regional stakeholders to ensure projects are employer or industry-driven.
- Applicants are limited to submitting only one application per organization.
- Projects must target a minimum of 250 participants and involve at least 50 employers, except for healthcare sector projects.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program Program
What is the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program?
The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program is a contribution program for eligible organizations with funding from $5,000,000 to $50,000,000 to help key sectors address current and emerging workforce needs. It focuses on training and reskilling, employer solutions, equity-deserving groups, and creative approaches to labour market challenges.
How much funding can be received?
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program program?
To be eligible for the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program program, you must:
Organizations had to be ready to establish a project quickly.
Organizations had to know sector skills issues well.
Organizations had to have established partnerships with sectoral stakeholders.
What expenses are eligible under Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program?
Training and reskilling workers, including curriculum and training tool development, flexible training models, online courses, job placements, work-integrated learning opportunities, wage subsidies, and cross-sectoral training.
Solutions for employers, including recruitment, retention, capacity-building, employer networks, partnerships or consortia, and sector-specific strategies.
Sector-wide standards and tools, including research and forecasting, occupational standards, job matching tools, skills recognition and certification systems, and educational or training material.
Creative solutions, including innovative approaches to improve resiliency and adaptability, preparing workers and workplaces for emerging technologies, and scaling up pilot project results.
Who can I contact for more information about the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by email at PSMS_OUVERT-SWSP_OPEN@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Where is the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program available?
The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program is a Grant and Funding