Open
Source verified August 4, 2026
Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers
Income top-up for Work-Sharing employers
Funding available
Up to 70% of project cost
Deadline
December 31, 2026
Opened February 16, 2026
Location
Alberta, Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Employers in all sectors with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement.
See full eligibility
Overview
Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers provides funding to employers in all sectors with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement to support employee training and weekly income top-ups. Eligible activities include training that supports business operations, digital and AI literacy, workplace safety, on-the-job learning, and upskilling or reskilling during reduced hours.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Up to 70% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta, Quebec
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Training that supports skills development specific to an employer's operations
- Foundational skills training, including digital and AI literacy, workplace safety, linguistic proficiency, problem-solving, and numeracy
- Informal training such as on-the-job training and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer
- Training that supports the growth of the sector and expansion into new markets
Documents Needed
- Grant Calculator
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Employers in all sectors with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement.
Who is not eligible
- Employers that operate solely for the purpose of carrying out the administration of a government program or activity, including municipalities and government or publicly owned corporations such as crown corporations
- Self-employed individuals
Eligible expenses
- Income supplement paid to eligible employees
- Mandatory Employment Related Costs on the supplement, limited to the employer portion of Employment Insurance premiums and Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan contributions
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs associated with the design and/or delivery of training, including professional fees, management consulting, travel and accommodation, materials and supplies, venue or logistics, virtual platform licenses, and printing participant materials
- Attending conferences
- Training that employers are legally required to provide
How to apply
- Use a Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account to apply.
- If you do not have a GCOS account, register for one.
- Submit the application as soon as your GCOS user and organization profile are complete.
- After submitting, finalize your GCOS account information as soon as possible.
- Upload the Grant Calculator with your GCOS application.
- If you cannot apply through GCOS, contact EDSC by email and explain why by December 31, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT.
Processing and Agreement
- Service Canada reviews the application against Work-Sharing utilization reports and EI Work-Sharing benefit information.
- If approved, the employer pays the supplement to employees in instalments.
- A validation report must be submitted at midpoint, one week before the agreement reaches 50% of its duration.
- The final attestation progress report must be submitted no later than 21 calendar days following the project end date.
- Required reports are uploaded in GCOS under Supporting Documents, and no payments are issued without them.
Additional information
- Participation in the Worker Retention Grant training is optional, and your decision will not affect your participation in Work-Sharing or your EI Work-Sharing benefits.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers Program
What is the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers?
Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers provides funding to employers in all sectors with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement to support employee training and weekly income top-ups. Eligible activities include training that supports business operations, digital and AI literacy, workplace safety, on-the-job learning, and upskilling or reskilling during reduced hours.
How much funding can be received?
Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is December 31, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers program?
To be eligible for the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers program, you must:
Eligible for the Work-Sharing program
Have an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement
Commit to training for at least 40% of the agreement period
What expenses are eligible under Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers?
Training that supports skills development specific to an employer's operations
Foundational skills training, including digital and AI literacy, workplace safety, linguistic proficiency, problem-solving, and numeracy
Informal training such as on-the-job training and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer
Training that supports the growth of the sector and expansion into new markets
Who can I contact for more information about the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at EDSC.DGOP.DMPJ.SMET-WRG.WDY.POB.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca or by phone at 1-800-367-5693.
Where is the Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers available?
The Worker Retention Grant for Work-Sharing Employers program is available the province of Alberta, Quebec.