Trades and Occupation Wage Subsidy Program

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Overview

This program provides financial support to employers to hire and train skilled apprentices and occupation trainees who are registered with the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification Program.

Participation may result in a Certificate of Qualification in a designated trade or a Certificate of Competence in a designated occupation.

The objectives of the program are to:

  • Provide opportunities for Northwest Territories (NWT) resident apprentices and occupation trainees to gain work experience and increase workplace essential skills;
  • Encourage employers to hire new apprentices and occupation trainees by offsetting the costs of hiring and training;
  • Encourage employers to hire women in non-traditional trades;
  • Encourage high quality training and certification standards in the apprenticeship and industry training system where supply meets demand; and 
  • Enhance the Schools North Apprenticeship Program participation to further support high school students interested in gaining experience towards a career in the trades.

Available Funding

  • An employer can be subsidized up to 3,200 hours of work experience (a maximum of 1,600 hours per fiscal year) at a maximum of $9.00 per hour. 
  • For female apprentices, a maximum of $16.00 per hour is available (to incentivize the hiring of females in the non-traditional trades and meet the labour demands in the trades). Hairstylists, cooks, and bakers are considered traditional trades.
  • If this program has surplus funding as of October 1, an employer can be subsidized up to 6,400 hours (an increase from 3,200) for their third- and fourth-year apprentices. 

Eligibility

You must be:

  • Registered with the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification (ATOC) program; and
  • A resident of the NWT.

How to apply

  • If you are an employer whose business resides in the NWT and are interested in supporting an apprentice, visit your regional ECE Service Centre and speak with a Career Development Officer.
  • If you employ a School North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP) Student, speak with the School SNAP Administrator (SSA) or Career and Education Advisor (CEA) about the Wage Subsidy Program.

Related links

Contact us

Regional Service Centres
Education, Culture and Employment

  • Beaufort Delta

(855) 283-9311

  • Dehcho

(867) 695-7338

  • North Slave

(866) 768-8145

  • Sahtu

(867) 587-7159

  • South Slave - Fort Smith

(867) 872-7425

  • South Slave - Hay River

(867) 874-5050