The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program is a federal Canadian grant from Employment and Social Development Canada that helps employers create quality work experiences for youth. The program reimburses eligible employers up to $25,000 for wages and training costs when hiring youth into positions that build in-demand skills.

YESS prioritizes youth who face multiple barriers to employment, including those who are Indigenous, newcomers, persons with disabilities, or at risk. Eligible applicants are employers and organizations that can create meaningful, skills-building job opportunities for young Canadians. Proposals are accepted during periodic calls, with the next intake expected in 2026.

Youth Employment and Skills Program — Eligibility, Funding & How to Apply | GrantCompass This program is currently between intakes. Periodic calls for proposals — not continuous intake. The most recent Youth Focused Projects call launched October 2023, with decisions announced July 2024.

Updated March 2026 · Verified against Employment and Social Development Canada guidelines Youth Employment and Skills Program Employment and Social Development Canada Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026 Visit Official Program → Youth Employment and Skills Program provides up to Up to $25,000 employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs.

Applications are accepted Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026 . (As of March 2026, verified against Employment and Social Development Canada program guidelines) What this program funds and who can apply Helps employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs.

Applying as an intermediary organization (non-profit, community agency, Indigenous organization) with experience delivering youth employment programming — individual employers do not apply directly Demonstrated track record serving youth facing barriers (not just general youth population) Project specifically targets youth aged 15-30 Has or is developing employer engagement partnerships to host youth placements Complete Budget Detail Template submitted (mandatory; missing it is automatic disqualification) Quebec organizations must apply for the National Component (not Regional Component) Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026 Competition, effort, and approval at a glance See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.

Try Free for 7 Days → Know your real odds before investing 40+ hours Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like Try Free for 7 Days → What You Need to Get Approved Everything reviewers look for — so you apply with confidence, not guesswork Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like Individual employers should NOT try to apply to YESSP directly — the program funds intermediary organizations, not employers.

Instead, search for YESS-funded organizations in your region (many are community agencies, Indigenous organizations, or employment centres) and offer to host a youth placement. These intermediaries are actively looking for quality employer partners.

If you are an intermediary organization, the strongest applications demonstrate deep employer partnerships already in place and a track record of serving youth facing multiple, compounding barriers — not just any unemployed youth. The Youth with Disabilities stream has a protected 20%+ allocation, so organizations with disability employment expertise face less competition.

See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Try Free for 7 Days → Application does not demonstrate all 5 mandatory criteria (automatic disqualification) Organization lacks track record in youth employment programming Project does not specifically target youth facing barriers — serving general youth population is insufficient See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.

Try Free for 7 Days → For intermediary organizations applying to deliver programming: established not-for-profits with 3+ years of youth employment service delivery, strong employer networks, experience serving Indigenous, racialized, or disabled youth, and presence in underserved communities.

For employers hosting placements: any size, any sector, willing to provide structured mentorship and quality work experience — not just an extra pair of hands. Agriculture employers have their own dedicated AAFC stream. See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Try Free for 7 Days → Applications are assessed on 5 mandatory criteria (automatic disqualification if any are unmet): organizational capacity and track record in youth employment; quality of employer engagement strategy; demonstration of serving youth facing barriers (not general youth population); SMART objectives with clear performance measurement plan; and evidence of partnerships and community support.

Projects targeting underrepresented demographics (Indigenous, racialized, disabled, rural, LGBTQ2+ youth) and underserved geographic areas receive additional consideration. See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.

Try Free for 7 Days → Don’t waste 80 hours on a preventable rejection 9 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on Try Free for 7 Days → Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses Determine Eligibility Pathway Individual employers: search for YESS-funded intermediary organizations in your region (community agencies, employment centres, Indigenous organizations) and offer to host a youth placement — you do not apply to YESSP directly.

Intermediary organizations: monitor ESDC's funding portal for calls for proposals. Register on Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) Create a GCOS account or prepare EMP5717 form for email submission. Ensure CRA Business Number documentation is current.

Develop Detailed Project Proposal Prepare project description with SMART objectives, employer engagement strategy, target participant demographics, intake assessment methodology, and performance measurement plan.

✓ GCOS account (or EMP5717 form for email submission) ✓ CRA Business Number documentation ✓ Budget Detail Template (mandatory) ✓ Detailed project description with SMART objectives and timelines ✓ Organization mandate, history, and governance structure ✓ Evidence of experience delivering youth employment programming ✓ Employer engagement strategy ✓ Performance measurement and reporting plan ✓ Target participant demographics and intake assessment methodology ✓ Partnership documentation and community support letters (optional but recommended) ✓ Financial management systems description ✓ Board of directors composition Participant wages and mandatory employment-related costs (EI, CPP, vacation pay) Participant support costs (living expenses, dependent care, transportation, accommodation) up to $50,000/participant Staff salaries for project coordination, mentoring, and case management Training and skills development activities for youth participants Administrative and overhead costs (typically capped at 15-20% of total budget) Disability-related accommodations (exempt from per-participant cap) Work placement equipment (safety gear, uniforms, criminal record checks — max $300/participant) Project evaluation and performance measurement activities Capital expenditures and land/building acquisition Fundraising activities or partisan political activities Core organizational operating costs unrelated to the funded project Expenses incurred before the contribution agreement is signed Activities that are discriminatory or violate the Canadian Charter of Rights Periodic calls for proposals — not continuous intake.

The most recent Youth Focused Projects call launched October 2023, with decisions announced July 2024. Budget 2025 allocated $307. 9M over two years starting FY 2026-27, so a new call is expected in 2026.

The AAFC agricultural stream has separate intake windows (last opened January 2025). YESSP (ESDC-administered) uses periodic calls for proposals, not ongoing intake. The most recent Youth Focused Projects call launched October 4, 2023, with funding decisions announced July 2024 for 200+ projects.

The Strategic Collaboration stream (invitation-only) had applications due July 10, 2024. Both are currently closed. Budget 2025 allocated $307.

9M over two years starting FY 2026-27, meaning a new call for proposals is expected in 2026. The AAFC agricultural stream operates separately with its own intake windows (last opened January 2025). Individual employers do NOT apply to YESSP — they connect with already-funded intermediary organizations.

[Apr 2026: URL updated — URL moved from canada. ca. Youth Employment and Skills Strategy restructured.]

Open Application Portal → Individual employers (must partner with funded intermediaries instead) For-profit corporations applying as lead applicants (some streams allow as partners) Organizations without demonstrated experience in youth employment programming Quebec organizations applying for the Regional Component (must apply National only) Organizations proposing discriminatory programming or partisan political activities Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Try Free for 7 Days → Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential Provincial Wage Subsidies (e.g., Ontario COJG, BC Employer Training Grant) IRAP Youth Employment Program Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

Try Free for 7 Days → See your total funding potential across 4 programs Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications Try Free for 7 Days → How Youth Employment and Skills Program Compares Side-by-side with similar programs Youth Employment and Skills Program Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) Industrial Research Assistance Progra...

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· Federal Know Before You Apply: Youth Employment and Skills Program 7 steps · 12 docs · what reviewers look for · stacking potential Try Free for 7 Days →