Grant
Provincial
Active
Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy)
SkillsPEI (Government of PEI)
Maximum Funding
Up to 50% of wages (max $12.50/hr) for up to 20 weeks
Ongoing
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy) provides Up to 50% of wages (max $12.50/hr) for up to 20 weeks. Wage subsidy covering up to 50% of wages (maximum $12.50/hour) for up to 20 weeks for PEI businesses hiring unemployed workers who have been out of high school for 2+ years. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Wage subsidy covering up to 50% of wages (maximum $12.50/hour) for up to 20 weeks for PEI businesses hiring unemployed workers who have been out of high school for 2+ years. One of the most accessible provincial wage subsidy programs in Canada with minimal application requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
- Registered private sector businesses, organizations (including non-profits), municipalities and band/tribal councils on Prince Edward Island
- New employee must be unemployed and looking for full-time work, and legally authorized to work in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
- Employee must have been out of high school for 2+ years
- Position must be a new addition to workforce (not replacing existing employee)
- Employer must demonstrate ability to retain employee after subsidy period
- The wage rate paid to the new employee must be within the wage range for the targeted occupation
- The application also screens for employees on layoff or awaiting recall, displacement of existing staff, a labour stoppage or dispute in progress, and union concurrence where applicable
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 50% of wages (max $12.50/hr) for up to 20 weeks
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipOne of the most accessible wage subsidies in Canada — a short form, but it needs a week-by-week training plan and a sustainability plan before SkillsPEI will assess it and fast approval.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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The pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy)
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 9-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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9 steps
9 docs
Application Steps
1
Complete the Employ PEI Application for Employers form
Required Documents 9
✓ Employ PEI employer application form
✓ Job description for subsidized position
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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4 partners
Compatible Programs
Canada Summer Jobs
Atlantic Immigration Program
ACOA — Business Development Program (BDP)
Innovation PEI Programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy) Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy) | Up to 50% of wages | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Canada Summer Jobs | Up to 100% wage subsidy | Easy | Reimbursement | Annual — 2026 cycle... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Up to 50% of capital costs | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ... | Varies (Repayable Contribution) | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| PEI Small Business Investment Grant | Up to $3,750 | Easy | Reimbursement | March 31, 2027 (annual... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy)
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Can I apply if I already hired someone?
No — applications must be approved and a funding agreement signed, with an agreed start date, before the employee starts work. Submit before the hire date to avoid rejection. Funding is only available for new hires meeting all eligibility criteria.
What's the realistic subsidy amount per hire?
Typically $3,000-$5,000 (20 weeks at $12.50/hr, 50% subsidy). Maximum $5,000 per employee. Does not cover full wages — you pay 50% of wages during the subsidy period.
Do I need to match the subsidy amount?
Yes — you must pay 50% of wages during the subsidy period. For example, if employee earns $25/hr, you pay $12.50/hr and get $12.50/hr subsidy.
Can I stack this with other grants?
Yes — combine with Canada Summer Jobs (for different employees), ACOA BDP, or Innovation PEI programs. Must use for different hires or different business costs.
Why do applications get rejected?
Common reasons: employee not unemployed, still in school, replacing existing staff, or no retention plan. Submit before hire date to avoid common pitfalls.
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Full Playbook: Employ PEI (Wage Subsidy)
9 steps · 9 docs · reviewer insights