Seven hiring and workforce-development programs are active for Manitoba employers in 2026, covering training costs up to $10,000 per employee, wage subsidies for co-op students, apprenticeship tax credits, and skills-training grants for businesses that create net new positions in Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, and across Manitoba.
Manitoba employers have access to 7 workforce funding programs in 2026. The Canada-Manitoba Job Grant covers up to 75% of external training costs (max $10,000 per employee, $100,000 per employer per year) for businesses of any size. The Industry Expansion Program provides custom-negotiated skills training grants to private companies that create net new full-time positions in Manitoba. Two provincial tax credits — COG-HI and COS-HI — pay 15% of wages when you hire co-op graduates or students, up to $5,000 each. Federally, IRAP funds up to $1M for incorporated SMEs with genuine hiring tied to R&D, and the Student Work Placement Program pays $5,000–$7,000 per co-op or internship placement. The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit credits 10% of wages for Red Seal apprentices.
Source: Government of Manitoba Employment and Training; Employment and Social Development Canada; National Research Council Canada; Manitoba Finance Tax Assistance OfficeAnswer 7 questions about your business — we match you to programs you actually qualify for, including provincial training credits most applicants miss.
Take the free quiz →| Program | Max amount | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada-Manitoba Job Grant | $10K/employee, $100K/yr | Grant (provincial) | Training existing or new staff |
| Industry Expansion Program | Custom-negotiated | Grant (provincial) | Expansion creating net new positions |
| IRAP | Up to $1M | Grant (federal) | R&D-linked hiring, incorporated SMEs |
| SWPP | $7K/placement | Grant (federal) | Co-op and internship placements |
| COG-HI | $5K/graduate | Tax credit (provincial) | Permanent hire of co-op grads |
| COS-HI | $5K/student | Tax credit (provincial) | Co-op work terms, any sector |
| AJCTC | $2K/apprentice/yr | Tax credit (federal) | Red Seal apprenticeships |
You're in a strong position for the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant. Any Manitoba employer can apply — no minimum size, no industry restriction. If you have 10 employees and want to train three of them on new CNC equipment through a Red River College Polytechnic or a private training provider, the grant covers 75% of the invoice, up to $10,000 per trainee. Stacking opportunity: also claim the AJCTC if any of those trainees are Red Seal apprentices — 10% credit on their wages, up to $2,000/year each. Apply for the Job Grant through gov.mb.ca before the training starts.
If you're opening a second facility in the Assiniboine South or North End industrial zones and creating net new positions, contact the Industry Expansion Program team at the Department of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation. Amounts are negotiated based on the number of positions created, wages, and retention commitments.
IRAP is the flagship program for you. National Research Council ITAs assigned to the Winnipeg office work with companies in health technology, agricultural software, fintech, and clean energy. The average grant is approximately $94K; companies with genuine technological uncertainty and qualified staff can access up to $1M. You must be incorporated in Canada, and sole proprietorships are ineligible.
For co-op students and interns, the Student Work Placement Program provides $5,000 per placement ($7,000 for underrepresented groups) through intermediary organizations including the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Red River College, and Brandon University. SWPP requires no separate government application — apply through the post-secondary institution's co-op office. Stack with COS-HI: claim the provincial 15%-of-wages credit on the same student placement through your Manitoba corporate tax return for additional recovery.
Source: NRC IRAP (nrc.canada.ca); SWPP (canada.ca/student-work-placement)The Canada-Manitoba Job Grant is available regardless of industry. A Brandon hotel training housekeeping staff, a Steinbach trucking firm upgrading driver certifications, or a Portage la Prairie food processor training quality control staff all qualify. The training must be delivered by an external third-party provider — internal training does not qualify. Apply through WorkMB before the training begins; retroactive applications are not accepted.
For apprenticeship trades, the federal AJCTC applies to any employer in any province hiring Red Seal apprentices in their first two years. Construction companies working on Winnipeg's active inner-city development projects — including the True North Real Estate Development corridor, the Portage and Main revitalization, and the Pembina Highway mixed-use corridor — qualify immediately. Claim on Schedule T2SCH31 with your corporate return.
Manitoba offers two separate tax credits for co-op hiring that most employers overlook. The Co-operative Students Hiring Incentive (COS-HI) pays 15% of wages for each work term placement, up to $5,000 per student over their academic career. The Co-operative Graduate Hiring Incentive (COG-HI) pays 15% of wages in year one and year two of permanent employment after graduation, up to $2,500/year for a $5,000 maximum per graduate. Both are claimed on the Manitoba corporate income tax return — no separate intake cycle.
These credits are fully stackable with SWPP, meaning a single co-op student placement at a Winnipeg tech firm can yield: $5,000–$7,000 via SWPP from the federal government, plus the provincial COS-HI credit at tax time. The total recovery on a 4-month placement at $18/hour, full-time, is approximately $2,800 (SWPP) + $2,160 (COS-HI) = roughly $5,000 of a ~$11,500 total wage cost.
Source: Manitoba Finance Tax Assistance Office (edu.gov.mb.ca/ald/tax_credit)Are you a Manitoba-based employer with at least one employee?
Is your hiring connected to a defined R&D or technology development project?
| Program | How to apply | Timing requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Canada-Manitoba Job Grant | Online at gov.mb.ca — WorkMB portal | Before training begins (retroactive not accepted) |
| Industry Expansion Program | Contact MB Business, Mining, Trade & Job Creation directly | Before creating new positions |
| IRAP | Contact NRC ITA — Winnipeg office | Advisor assessment before project start |
| SWPP | Through post-secondary institution's co-op office | Before placement begins |
| COG-HI / COS-HI | Manitoba corporate income tax return (T1 MBT) | Annual — at tax filing |
| AJCTC | Federal Schedule T2SCH31 on corporate return | Annual — at tax filing |
| Stack combination | Who benefits | Estimated combined value |
|---|---|---|
| SWPP + COS-HI | Any employer with co-op students | $5,000–$7,000 (SWPP) + 15% wages (COS-HI) |
| AJCTC + Job Grant | Manufacturer training Red Seal apprentices | Up to $10K/apprentice (Job Grant) + $2K/yr (AJCTC) |
| IRAP + SWPP | Tech SME with R&D team and co-op interns | Up to $1M (IRAP) + $7K per intern (SWPP) |
| Employer size | Subsidy rate | Max per employee | Max per employer/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–100 employees | Up to 75% of eligible training costs | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| 101+ employees | Up to 50% of eligible training costs | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| Any employer, underrepresented trainees | Up to 83% (Indigenous, persons with disabilities) | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| Program | Incorporation required? | Minimum employees | Manitoba presence required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada-Manitoba Job Grant | No (sole props OK) | None | Yes — must have MB operations |
| IRAP | Yes — Canadian incorporated | None published | Yes — operations or R&D in MB |
| SWPP | No | None | Placement must be in Canada |
| COG-HI / COS-HI | Yes — Manitoba corporation | None | Yes — Manitoba employer |
| AJCTC | No (all employers) | None | Apprentice registered in Canada |
| Industry Expansion Program | No | None published | Yes — net new jobs in MB |
The Canada-Manitoba Job Grant is the most broadly applicable program, because it covers any external training for any Manitoba employer with no industry restrictions. A Winnipeg retailer, a Thompson mining services company, or a Dauphin agriculture business all qualify identically.
SWPP plus COS-HI is the optimal stack. SWPP provides $5,000–$7,000 from the federal government through the university's co-op office; COS-HI adds a provincial 15%-of-wages recovery at tax time. The combined benefit often covers 40–50% of total placement cost.
The Industry Expansion Program is the right fit when you are adding net new positions, because the amount is custom-negotiated and there is no published cap. Companies in Winnipeg's northern industrial area, Brandon's south industrial park, or the Portage Diversion industrial lands have accessed this program for workforce expansion.
IRAP delivers the highest total funding ceiling. The NRC's Winnipeg ITA office covers Manitoba, Saskatchewan's border regions, and supports companies in Winnipeg's tech corridor (True North, the Digital Media Centre, Peg City incubator) as well as rural technology businesses. Incorporated status is mandatory.
Manitoba's hiring grants are delivered through a layered network of provincial, federal, and municipal bodies. Winnipeg employers access the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant through WorkMB, administered by Manitoba Employment and Training. The Industry Expansion Program is run by the Manitoba Department of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation with offices at 259 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg. NRC IRAP Industrial Technology Advisors serve Winnipeg's Exchange District, North End, and Seven Oaks industrial zones, as well as businesses in Brandon, Steinbach, Portage la Prairie, and Thompson.
The Manitoba Film and Music and Creative Manitoba organizations in the Winnipeg Arts District serve creative-sector employers accessing IRAP or SWPP. The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Winnipeg (True North Real Estate Development zone) provide navigation support for first-time applicants. In rural areas, Western Manitoba Regional Skills Centre (Brandon), Assiniboine Community College (Brandon and Portage la Prairie campuses), and Red River College Polytechnic (Winkler, Steinbach, and Winnipeg campuses) are eligible third-party training providers for the Job Grant. Rural Municipality of Headingley, RM of Springfield, RM of Rosser, and communities in the Interlake Economic Development Zone, Southwest Manitoba Economic Alliance, and Parkland Region Economic Development are all within scope for provincial programs.
Indigenous employers and businesses on First Nations in Opaskwayak Cree Nation (The Pas), Peguis First Nation (Interlake), Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (Nelson House), and through Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak affiliate organizations qualify for the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant and the AJCTC. The COS-HI and COG-HI credits are administered by Manitoba Finance Tax Assistance Office in Winnipeg. Brandon University, University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, and Université de Saint-Boniface all operate registered co-op programs connecting employers to COS-HI and SWPP.
Source: Manitoba Employment and Training; NRC IRAP; Manitoba Finance Tax Assistance OfficeThe Canada-Manitoba Job Grant covers up to 75% of third-party external training for Manitoba employers with 100 or fewer employees (50% for 101+ employees). Training must be provided by a recognized external provider — Red River College Polytechnic, Assiniboine Community College, private sector trainers, and professional associations all qualify. The application must be submitted before training begins; retroactive claims are rejected. Employers in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk, Thompson, and all Manitoba municipalities are eligible.
Apply at gov.mb.ca →The Industry Expansion Program provides customized skills training grants to private, for-profit companies that are establishing new operations or expanding existing operations in Manitoba with net new full-time positions (minimum 2,080 hours per year per position). Amounts are negotiated based on the number of positions, wages, and the employer's training plan. The program excludes non-profits, co-operatives, and government entities. Employers must hold a Canadian Business Number and be licensed to carry on business in Manitoba. Contact the department directly before hiring.
Program details at gov.mb.ca →IRAP provides non-repayable contributions to incorporated Canadian SMEs to fund technical staff salaries, subcontractor costs, and associated hiring for projects with genuine technological uncertainty. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and co-operatives are ineligible. The Winnipeg ITA team serves all of Manitoba. First step is an ITA assessment — apply at nrc.canada.ca or contact the Winnipeg regional office. IRAP can be stacked with SWPP for co-op students on the same team.
IRAP details at nrc.canada.ca →SWPP pays $5,000 per quality co-op or internship placement ($7,000 when the student is from an underrepresented group, including Indigenous students, persons with disabilities, and newcomers). Applications are submitted through the post-secondary institution's co-op office — University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Red River College Polytechnic, Brandon University, and Université de Saint-Boniface are all eligible intermediaries. Stackable with Manitoba's COS-HI tax credit.
SWPP details at canada.ca →COG-HI credits 15% of first-year and second-year wages when you hire a graduate of a registered Manitoba co-operative education program into a permanent, full-time role (minimum 35 hrs/week). The graduate must hold a degree, diploma, or certificate from an approved Manitoba co-op program. No separate intake — claimed on the annual Manitoba corporate income tax return. Private companies, co-operatives, Crown corporations, municipalities, and non-profits are all eligible.
COG-HI at edu.gov.mb.ca →COS-HI credits 15% of wages paid during each co-op work term, up to $5,000 per student over their academic career. The student must be enrolled in a registered post-secondary co-op program and the work placement must count toward their degree, certificate, or diploma. No separate application — claimed at tax time. Eligible employers include private companies, co-operatives, Crown corporations, municipalities, unincorporated employers, and non-profits. Stackable with SWPP.
COS-HI at edu.gov.mb.ca →AJCTC credits 10% of eligible salaries paid to Red Seal apprentices in their first two years of an apprenticeship program, capped at $2,000 per apprentice per year. Available to any employer in any province — construction, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and services companies in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, and rural Manitoba all qualify. The apprentice must be enrolled in a Red Seal designated trade. Claimed on Schedule T2SCH31 with no separate application to ESDC.
AJCTC at canada.ca →Canada-Manitoba Job Grant intake timing: The Job Grant has been between intakes for portions of 2025–26 as Manitoba Employment and Training manages application volumes. Verify current intake status at gov.mb.ca before scheduling training, and do not commit training provider contracts assuming funding — apply first.
SWPP expanded to all sectors: The Student Work Placement Program is available in every industry sector, not just STEM. Hospitality, retail, and non-profit employers in Winnipeg and Brandon accessing University of Manitoba or Red River College co-op programs can now access the $5,000–$7,000 placement subsidy on the same terms as technology companies.
Industry Expansion Program continues under new departmental name: Manitoba's Ministry of Jobs and Economy was restructured and the Industry Expansion Program now operates under Manitoba Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation. The program structure, eligibility, and contact process remain unchanged. Phone and email contacts are available at gov.mb.ca/jec/busdev/financial/iep.
COG-HI and COS-HI remain active: Both Manitoba co-op hiring tax credits are active and unchanged for the 2025–26 tax year. No legislative amendments were introduced. Employers should confirm eligible programs through the Manitoba Finance Tax Assistance Office before filing.
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Start the free quiz →Manitoba hiring & wage subsidy programs in our database, each with eligibility, funding amounts and how-to-apply detail.