Grant
Federal
Between Intakes
Youth Employment and Skills Program
Employment and Social Development Canada
Maximum Funding
Up to $25K
Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Advance Payment
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
Youth Employment and Skills Program provides Up to $25K per youth (via intermediary org; $5M/yr per agreement). Helps employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs. Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Helps employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs.
Eligibility Requirements
- 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)
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $25K per youth (via intermediary org; $5M/yr per agreement)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Between intakes — periodic calls for proposals, next expected 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Youth Employment and Skills Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 12-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-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
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipIndividual employers should NOT try to apply to YESSP directly — the program funds intermediary organizations, not employers.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 9
- Application does not demonstrate all 5 mandatory criteria (automatic disqualification)
+8 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
9 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
12 docs
Application Steps
1
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.
Required Documents 12
✓ GCOS account (or EMP5717 form for email submission)
✓ CRA Business Number documentation
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 5
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 (CSJ)
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
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How Youth Employment and Skills Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Employment and Skills Program | Up to $25K | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes —... |
| Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) | 50% of student wages | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Youth Employment and Skills Program
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Can individual employers apply directly?
No — YESSP funds intermediary organizations (non-profits, community agencies, Indigenous groups), not individual employers. Applying directly results in automatic disqualification.
What's the realistic per-youth cost?
Typical per-youth investment is $25,000 (mid-range). For AAFC agricultural stream: $14,000 wage subsidy + $5,000 relocation. Per-agreement max is $5M/year for intermediaries.
Why do applications get rejected?
Missing mandatory Budget Detail Template, lacking track record serving youth facing barriers, or not targeting youth with multiple barriers (not general youth population).
Can I stack with provincial wage subsidies?
Yes — provincial programs like Ontario COJG can complement YESSP, but total government funding cannot exceed 100% of eligible costs. AAFC stream is separate.
How long does application take?
This is a full proposal, not a form: a project description with SMART objectives, an employer engagement strategy, target participant demographics and intake methodology, a performance measurement plan, and evidence of past youth employment programming. The mandatory Budget Detail Template is the piece applicants most often miss — omitting it causes automatic disqualification.
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Full Playbook: Youth Employment and Skills Program
7 steps · 12 docs · reviewer insights