WorkingNB Labour Force Training
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Cost-shared grants to New Brunswick employers to train existing or potential employees. Reimburses 25-50% of eligible training costs up to $20,000 per employer per region per fiscal year (up to $40,000 total for multi-region employers). Continuous intake. Replaces the closed Canada-New Brunswick Job Grant.
Eligibility Requirements
- Private sector employers established in New Brunswick
- Non-profit organizations established in New Brunswick (with Board authorization letter)
- First Nations organizations established in New Brunswick
- Training participants must be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Participants must work in New Brunswick on a permanent basis
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $40,000 per employer per fiscal year ($20,000 per region)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (continuous intake)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipContact your local WorkingNB regional office BEFORE filling out paperwork — a workforce consultant will pre-screen eligibility and guide you. Level 1 (50% reimbursement) is significantly more generous than Level 2 (25%), so ask which tier your training qualifies for. The $20,000 cap is per region — multi-location employers can access up to $40,000 total. Apply early in the fiscal year (April-June) to ensure budget availability. In-house training may be eligible, which is unusual for government training grants.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Application submitted after training already started (most common)
- Training costs under $1,000 minimum threshold
- Employer not established in New Brunswick
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Success Profile
Private sector NB employer training existing employees in job-relevant skills through a recognized provider. Common: manufacturing firms upskilling operators, tech companies training on new platforms, construction employers pursuing safety certifications. Training under 52 weeks from a recognized provider with clear skills outcomes.
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Evaluation Criteria
Non-competitive, criteria-based. Assessors verify: NB-established employer, legitimate training provider, clear skills development outcome linked to the employee's job, training not yet started, employer financial contribution confirmed, and trainee eligibility (NB-based, legally entitled to work in Canada). Level 1 (50% reimbursement) or Level 2 (25%) assigned by WorkingNB consultant based on program assessment.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 5
- Tuition fees or fees charged by a recognized training provider
- Mandatory participant fees
- Mandatory textbooks (required for the course)
- Mandatory software developed specifically for training purposes
- Examination fees directly tied to the training
Ineligible Expenses 7
- Work tools usable for daily tasks (laptops, tablets, hardware, boots, tools)
- Travel costs for training provider or participant
- Meals and accommodation for training provider or participant
- Employee wages/salaries while attending training
- HST on eligible training costs
- Training that the employer requires the employee to pay for
- Costs below the $1,000 minimum per application (before HST)
Intake Periods
Continuous year-round intake aligned with NB fiscal year (April 1 – March 31). Apply early in fiscal year (April–June) as regional budgets can deplete.
Deadline Notes
Continuous intake year-round, aligned with provincial fiscal year (April 1-March 31). Applications must be received and approved before training starts. Apply early in fiscal year (April-June) to ensure regional budget availability.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Public sector (government) employers
- Employers not established in New Brunswick
- Employers that require participants to pay for training
- Organizations with applications totalling under $1,000 before HST
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How WorkingNB Labour Force Trai... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| WorkingNB Labour Force Training | Up to $40,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing (continuous... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ... | Varies (Repayable Contribution) | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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