NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provincial wage subsidy covering 60-80% of wages up to $12/hour for 10-28 weeks, plus a $2,000 employer completion bonus at 52 weeks and $1,000 employee completion bonus. Two streams: long-term (up to 28 weeks within 42-week period) and seasonal (up to 28 weeks). Available to private sector and non-profit employers in Newfoundland and Labrador with a CRA business number.
Eligibility Requirements
- Private sector or non-profit employers in NL with CRA business number
- Position must be a new position (not replacing existing employee)
- Employees must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents in NL
- Employees must be individuals lacking work experience or skills
- Not available to government entities
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 60-80% subsidy up to $12/hr for 10-28 weeks, plus $2,000 employer completion bonus
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
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. Unlock with Premium →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipTwo streams: long-term (up to 28 weeks within 42-week period) and seasonal (up to 28 weeks). The $2,000 employer completion bonus at 52 weeks plus $1,000 employee bonus incentivize retention. 80% subsidy rate is among the most generous in Canada. Great for hiring entry-level workers.
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it. Unlock with Premium →
Success Profile
A hospitality business in Corner Brook hiring 3 workers with limited experience at $16/hr, receiving 60% subsidy ($12/hr × 3 workers × 28 weeks) plus $6,000 in completion bonuses.
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like. Unlock with Premium →
Evaluation Criteria
Non-competitive, criteria-based. Assessors verify: employer is private/non-profit with CRA business number and NL office, position is genuinely new (not replacing an existing employee), employee is unemployed or underemployed (<20 hrs/week), employee is a Canadian citizen or PR in NL. Decision within 20 business days.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 4
Eligible Expenses 3
- Wages paid to the subsidized employee (up to $12/hour maximum eligible hourly rate)
- $2,000 employer completion bonus (after employee completes 52 weeks of total employment)
- $1,000 employee completion bonus (direct to employee after 52 weeks)
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Wages for existing employees (subsidy is for new positions only)
- Wages above the $12/hour eligible cap (employer absorbs the difference)
- Benefits, CPP, or EI contributions
- Training costs (covered separately by Canada-NL Job Grant)
- Wages for participants receiving federal/provincial pensions or WCB benefits during the subsidy period
Intake Periods
Continuous intake year-round. Two streams: JobsNL-42 (long-term employment, 28 weeks of subsidy across 42-week period) and JobsNL-28 (seasonal/short-term, 28 weeks of continuous subsidy).
Deadline Notes
Ongoing — apply at any time. Two streams available: long-term employment and seasonal employment. Contact a local Employment Centre or apply online.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Federal government departments
- Provincial government departments
- Crown agencies and corporations
- Municipalities
- Political parties
- Boards and commissions
- Employers without a CRA business number
- Employers not in good standing with Registry of Companies
- Employers without a NL office location
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare. Unlock with Premium →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL JobsNL Wage Subsidy | up to $12 | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Canada Summer Jobs | Up to 100% wage subsidy | Easy | Reimbursement | Annual — 2026 cycle... |
| NL Job Accelerator and Growth (JAG) P... | 10-15% | Moderate | Reimbursement | Open |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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