11 workforce training and development programs for New Brunswick employers. Canada-NB Job Grant ($10K per trainee), Workforce Expansion wage subsidies (up to 70%), One-Job Pledge, and federal programs for apprentices, students, and digital skills. Canada's bilingual province with one of the most accessible provincial training grant portals.
New Brunswick employers have access to a mix of provincial and federal workforce training programs. The anchor is the Canada-New Brunswick Job Grant (CANJBG) — it covers up to two-thirds of eligible training costs per employee, capped at $10,000 per trainee, administered through WorkingNB offices across the province. Unlike some other provinces, NB's portal is unified under a single provincial employment services brand, making it easier to find the right contact.
The provincial programs extend well beyond simple training grants. Workforce Expansion provides wage subsidies of up to 70% of wages for hiring youth, individuals with disabilities, Indigenous workers, or persons recently released from custody — a much higher subsidy rate than most comparable programs in other provinces. One-Job Pledge offers $10,000 to employers who hire a New Brunswick post-secondary graduate who would otherwise leave the province for work.
Federal programs fill in the gaps. The AJCTC (Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit) covers 10% of wages for Red Seal apprentices in years 1-2. SWILP subsidizes co-op student wages. Skills for Success funds foundational and digital literacy training at scale. New Brunswick's bilingual profile means both English and French-language training options are expected under CANJBG — a consideration when identifying eligible trainers.
Organization: Government of New Brunswick / Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $10,000 per trainee (2/3 of eligible costs)
NB's core employer-driven training grant. Covers up to two-thirds of eligible third-party training costs per employee — employer covers the remaining one-third. Available for any sector, any recognized external trainer. Administered through WorkingNB. Apply before training begins — retroactive reimbursement is not permitted. Bilingual training options available and expected under program guidelines for Francophone employees.
Organization: Government of New Brunswick — WorkingNB
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 70% of wages for eligible employees
Provincial wage subsidy for NB employers hiring individuals from priority populations: youth (30 and under), persons with disabilities, Indigenous individuals, newcomers to Canada, and individuals recently released from custody. Wage subsidy rates vary by target group and employer type. Accessed through WorkingNB — contact your nearest office to confirm current rates and intake status.
Organization: Government of New Brunswick
Level: provincial
Amount: $10,000 per eligible hire
$10,000 grant to New Brunswick employers who hire a New Brunswick post-secondary graduate who has been living outside the province for work. Targets the "brain drain" problem — NB graduates who left for other provinces and can be recruited back. Employer receives $5,000 at 6 months and $5,000 at 12 months of continued employment. The position must be a newly-created, permanent full-time role. Verify current program open/closed status with WorkingNB before planning recruitment on this basis.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $25,000
Helps NB employers create quality work experiences and skills development for youth (15–30) facing barriers to employment. Covers wage support and training costs through ESDC program delivery organizations active in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, and rural NB communities.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Varies
Supports skills development and employment training for Indigenous peoples in New Brunswick through funding agreements with Indigenous service delivery organizations. Delivered by Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey community organizations, Ganigonhi:io, and other Indigenous training bodies operating in NB communities.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million (organization level)
Funds organizations delivering foundational skills training — literacy, numeracy, digital skills, communication — for Canadians who need skills before accessing technical training. Relevant for NB employers partnering with literacy organizations like Laubach Literacy or NB Community College (NBCC) for workplace-embedded literacy programs.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $2 million
Supports union-based apprenticeship training and modernization of training approaches for the skilled trades. Relevant to NB's construction sector in Greater Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton where union training halls serve electrical, plumbing, and ironworking apprentices.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $10 million
Addresses workforce challenges in specific economic sectors by funding sector-level training projects. Relevant to NB's forestry sector (Restigouche, Madawaska, Northumberland counties), IT sector (Moncton hub), and food processing sector (Caraquet, Shediac, Dieppe corridors).
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $7,000 per co-op placement
Subsidizes NB employers who create work-integrated learning positions for post-secondary students in STEM and business. Delivered through NBCC, Université de Moncton, UNB, St. Thomas University, and Mount Allison University co-op and WIL offices. Can be combined with CANJBG for formal training costs tied to the placement.
Organization: Canada Revenue Agency
Level: federal
Amount: 10% of wages, max $2,000 per apprentice per year
Federal non-refundable tax credit for employers hiring registered apprentices in Red Seal trades during years 1-2 of their program. Claimed on the T2 Schedule 31. Stackable with CANJBG: CANJBG covers in-school training costs at NBCC or another eligible institution; AJCTC covers part of the apprentice's employment wages on your tax return.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $15,000 per intern (wage subsidy)
Provides wage subsidies for 6-month digital internships for underemployed post-secondary graduates under 30. Relevant to NB tech employers in Moncton's growing IT sector and Fredericton's cybersecurity cluster. Delivered through intermediary organizations — confirm current intake status before planning headcount on this basis.
You run a logging, sawmill, wood processing, or forestry contracting operation in northern New Brunswick — Restigouche County, Madawaska County, or Northumberland County. Your workforce needs certifications that have become mandatory or highly competitive: chainsaw safety (Level I/II), skidder and forwarder operation, silvicultural treatment certification, or sawmill safety protocols. Your challenge is that training often means pulling workers off shifts during peak seasons, and your margin for absorbing training costs is thin.
CANJBG is your starting point. WorkingNB offices in Bathurst and Campbellton both process employer applications. Bring your trainer's quote — from an approved NB safety training provider, NBCC Campbellton or Bathurst campus, or a certified industry trainer — and your employee list. For any employee from a priority population (Indigenous worker, youth under 30), Workforce Expansion can simultaneously cover a portion of their wages during the same period. The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program is worth watching at the sector level — forestry workforce challenges in NB have been a target of prior SWSP rounds, and industry associations like Forest NB periodically lead collective applications that individual employers can join.
You operate a business — food processing, tourism, healthcare services, financial services — in a predominantly Francophone region of New Brunswick. Your training needs may be specific to French-language delivery: customer service in French, bilingual workplace safety training, or sector-specific programs offered by La Cité or Université de Moncton.
Under CANJBG guidelines, bilingual employers are expected to ensure Francophone employees have access to French-language training options when available and appropriate. This means when sourcing trainers, confirming French-language delivery capability strengthens your application and avoids complications. La Cité (formerly the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick / CCNB) campuses in Dieppe, Edmundston, Campbellton, Bathurst, and Shippagan are consistently approved CANJBG trainers. Université de Moncton's Moncton, Shippagan, and Edmundston campuses are also eligible trainers for professional development programs. If you're hiring a young Francophone professional who has left for Ontario or Quebec, One-Job Pledge is specifically designed for this situation — $10,000 for bringing a NB grad back to work in New Brunswick.
You run a small to medium business in Greater Moncton (Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview) or the Fredericton area with 5–50 employees. You're hiring young workers — and you want to use the provincial Workforce Expansion wage subsidy to offset the cost of bringing on someone with limited experience who will need training investment upfront. The NB Workforce Expansion subsidy can cover up to 70% of wages for a youth hire (30 and under), meaning you're paying as little as 30% of wages during the development period.
The mechanics: WorkingNB assesses your Workforce Expansion application based on the employee's target group eligibility and your position's suitability. The subsidy runs for a defined period (often 3-6 months depending on the program stream). During that same period, you can apply for CANJBG to cover the cost of any third-party training the same employee attends — since Workforce Expansion covers wages and CANJBG covers tuition, there's no double-dipping. The combination is one of the highest-leverage training program stacks available to any Atlantic Canada employer. Canada Summer Jobs is also available for summer positions at 50% of minimum wage (private sector) — a lower subsidy than Workforce Expansion but with a simpler application process.
Your company runs 3–15 workers in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or industrial construction in the Saint John area, Fredericton, or Miramichi. You're managing registered apprentices in Red Seal trades and absorbing real costs: apprentice wages during in-school training at NBCC, tools, and productivity loss during school blocks. You may also be navigating the bilingual workplace reality — some apprentices prefer training in French, some in English, and NBCC offers both.
Your best stack: CANJBG covers the in-school NBCC tuition for the apprentice. The federal AJCTC covers 10% of wages you paid the same apprentice during years 1–2, up to $2,000/year, claimed on your T2 Schedule 31 at year-end — separate from CANJBG, no conflict. UTIP is available through union training halls if you're affiliated with IBEW, UA, or another NB trade union. If you're hiring a new apprentice who is a youth (under 30), Workforce Expansion can additionally cover part of their wages during the early months of the apprenticeship, before the AJCTC wage credit kicks in on your T2. That's a potential four-way stack: CANJBG (school tuition) + AJCTC (wage T2 credit) + UTIP (union hall curriculum) + Workforce Expansion (early-stage wage subsidy for youth apprentice).
CANJBG and Workforce Expansion applications are processed through WorkingNB offices across the province. New Brunswick's unified employment services network operates through regional offices in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Fredericton, Saint John, Bathurst, Edmundston, Campbellton, Miramichi, Caraquet, Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, Sussex, Woodstock, Shediac, Oromocto, Sackville, St. Stephen, Dalhousie, and Shippagan. All 15 counties — Albert, Carleton, Charlotte, Gloucester, Kent, Kings, Madawaska, Northumberland, Queens, Restigouche, Saint John, Sunbury, Victoria, Westmorland, and York — are served. Eligible trainers under CANJBG include NBCC campuses in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Miramichi, Woodstock, Campbellton, Bathurst, and St. Andrews, as well as La Cité campuses in Dieppe, Edmundston, Campbellton, Bathurst, and Shippagan. Post-secondary institutions acting as co-op partners for SWILP include Université de Moncton (Moncton, Shippagan, Edmundston), UNB (Fredericton, Saint John), St. Thomas University (Fredericton), Mount Allison University (Sackville), and NBCC.
Source: WorkingNB Office Directory 2024; NB Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour| Goal | Primary Program | Secondary Stack | Key Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train existing employees with external trainer | CANJBG ($10K/trainee) | Workforce Expansion if priority population | Apply before training starts — no retroactive claims |
| Hire youth or person with disability | Workforce Expansion (up to 70% wages) | CANJBG for separate training fees | Employee must meet target group criteria |
| Hire NB post-secondary grad from away | One-Job Pledge ($10K) | CANJBG for onboarding training | Position must be newly created and permanent FT; verify program open |
| Register and train apprentices | CANJBG (NBCC in-school tuition) | AJCTC on T2 + Workforce Expansion (youth) + UTIP (union) | AJCTC non-refundable — need taxable income |
| Hire a post-secondary co-op student | SWILP ($5K–$7K via college/university) | CANJBG for separate certification | Apply through NB institution's co-op office, not WorkingNB |
| Build foundational digital/literacy skills | Skills for Success (competitive) | CANJBG for individual certifications | Competitive intake — apply via ESDC, not WorkingNB |
| AI/digital internship (recent grad under 30) | DS4Y ($15K, wage subsidy) | CANJBG for formal certifications | Apply via intermediary org; verify intake status |
For most New Brunswick SMEs training 1–20 existing employees with an external trainer, CANJBG through WorkingNB is the correct first move. It's rolling intake, has no competitive round to wait for, and approval takes 2-4 weeks for complete applications. Start here, then layer Workforce Expansion (if you're hiring a priority population employee) and AJCTC (if you're running apprentices). One-Job Pledge is the most underused NB-specific program — fewer NB employers apply than would qualify, and it's $10,000 with payment spread over two milestones.
| Feature | CANJBG | Workforce Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Training fees, tuition, materials | Wages of eligible employee |
| Maximum | $10,000 per trainee (2/3 of cost) | Up to 70% of wages (varies by target group) |
| Who can be funded | Any employee (new or existing) | Priority populations only |
| Training requirement | Must use eligible external trainer | No training requirement — wage subsidy only |
| Can be stacked? | Yes — with Workforce Expansion (different costs) | Yes — with CANJBG (different costs) |
| Application portal | WorkingNB | WorkingNB |
| Approval time | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
For New Brunswick trades contractors, the optimal stack is CANJBG (NBCC in-school tuition) + AJCTC on T2 (years 1-2 wages) + Workforce Expansion if the apprentice is under 30. Three separate programs, three separate cost categories, no double-dipping. A contractor running 5 youth apprentices in electrical or plumbing can realistically recover $40,000–$60,000 per year across these three programs combined, depending on apprentice wages and training costs. Most NB trades employers claim only CANJBG and miss the other two.
WorkingNB continues as the unified portal for provincial programs. The consolidation of New Brunswick's employment services under the WorkingNB brand — launched in 2020 and expanded through 2022-2023 — has stabilized the delivery network. Employers familiar with the old Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification or the former Regional Development Corporation interfaces should note that CANJBG and Workforce Expansion applications now run through a single online employer portal at gnb.ca/workingNB. The offices are bilingual and application forms are available in both English and French.
One-Job Pledge program: periodic intake windows. The One-Job Pledge has operated with open and closed intake windows since its launch. The program's eligibility and funding formula ($10K over 12 months for hiring an NB grad from outside the province into a new role) has not changed structurally. Verify current intake status directly with WorkingNB before building a recruitment campaign around this incentive. The program is popular and can close once annual allocations are committed.
Workforce Expansion wage subsidy rates: confirm current rates at time of application. The maximum subsidy rates under Workforce Expansion have been as high as 70% of wages for certain target groups. These rates are subject to annual program reviews and may be adjusted. The structure (priority populations, defined employment period, approved in advance) has been consistent, but the specific percentage you'll receive depends on the target group and your WorkingNB case officer's assessment. Do not assume last year's rate applies to a new application.
Federal Budget 2024 and NB-relevant updates. Budget 2024 did not make fundamental changes to CANJBG or provincial job grants — these are governed by the bilateral Labour Market Development Agreements, which run on multi-year cycles. The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC) remains at 10% of wages / $2,000/year and has not been modified in recent budgets. The Digital Skills for Youth program has continued its periodic intake windows — check ISED's website for current status if planning a DS4Y hire.
NBCC program expansion — Moncton and Fredericton campuses. New Brunswick Community College continues to expand applied technology and trades programs on its Moncton and Fredericton campuses, making more NB-accessible trainers available under CANJBG. If a specific certification course wasn't available from an NBCC campus in previous years, check current offerings before sourcing external trainers from other provinces — a local NBCC option is simpler for CANJBG eligibility documentation.
Université de Moncton co-op expansion. UdeM has expanded its work-integrated learning and co-op programming, particularly in engineering, information technology, and business administration. NB employers seeking to use SWILP for French-language co-op students now have more options through UdeM's Moncton campus co-op office. This is particularly relevant for Acadian and Francophone employers in Greater Moncton, Caraquet, Shippagan, and Edmundston.
Bilingual training requirement under CANJBG: practical implications for NB employers. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. Under CANJBG guidelines, employers in predominantly Francophone work environments are expected to make reasonable efforts to identify French-language training options for Francophone employees. In practice, this means checking whether La Cité or UdeM offers the certification before defaulting to an English-only provider. WorkingNB staff will flag this during application review if the employee roster includes Francophone employees and only English-language training is proposed.
| Sector | Primary NB Program | Secondary Federal Stack | Key NB-Specific Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry / Natural Resources | CANJBG | Sectoral Workforce Solutions (sector level), ISET (Indigenous workers) | NBCC Campbellton/Bathurst are eligible trainers; safety cert heavy |
| Construction / Trades | CANJBG + Workforce Expansion (youth) | AJCTC (T2), UTIP (union halls) | NB Apprenticeship registers all Red Seal trades in NB |
| Food Processing / Agri-food | CANJBG | Sectoral Workforce Solutions | Caraquet, Shediac, Moncton food corridor; bilingual workforce |
| IT / Digital Services (Moncton/Fredericton) | CANJBG | DS4Y, SWILP (UNB/UdeM), Mitacs Accelerate | Fredericton cybersecurity cluster; Moncton bilingual IT growing |
| Healthcare / Long-term Care | CANJBG | YESP (youth workers), Sectoral Workforce Solutions | Bilingual healthcare training expected for Francophone facilities |
| Non-profit / Community Services | Workforce Expansion (priority pop.), YESP | Canada Summer Jobs (100% non-profit), Skills for Success | NB non-profits access CSJ at 100% vs 50% for private sector |
| Tourism / Hospitality | CANJBG, One-Job Pledge (grad hire) | Canada Summer Jobs | Seasonal workforce patterns — apply for CSJ Jan-Feb for summer |
The Workforce Expansion + CANJBG combination on the same employee is the most underused major opportunity in New Brunswick's training landscape. Most NB employers know about CANJBG but not Workforce Expansion, or know about Workforce Expansion but don't realize they can layer CANJBG on top. For an employer hiring a 24-year-old into a production role at a Moncton food processor — youth (Workforce Expansion) + sending them to NBCC for a food safety certification (CANJBG) — the combined subsidy can cover both wages AND training costs simultaneously, from two separate programs with no double-dipping, both administered through the same WorkingNB office.
| Step | Timing | Who Does It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify training need + trainer | 6+ weeks before training | Employer | Confirm trainer eligibility before getting quote; bilingual option required if Francophone employees |
| Get formal training quote | 5 weeks before | Trainer → Employer | Must be from actual training provider on letterhead |
| Contact WorkingNB office | 5 weeks before | Employer | Use locator at gnb.ca/workingNB; same office handles CANJBG + Workforce Expansion |
| Submit CANJBG application | 4–5 weeks before | Employer via WorkingNB portal | Do not start training until approval received |
| Application review + approval | 2-4 weeks | WorkingNB officer | Complete applications process faster; missing trainer credentials are the most common delay |
| Training delivery | Within agreed period | Eligible trainer | Keep attendance records and signed in/out sheets for each day |
| Submit completion + claim | Within 30 days of completion | Employer → WorkingNB | Invoice, training certificate, attendance records required |
| Grant payment | 4-6 weeks after claim | WorkingNB → Employer | Paid to employer; employer has already paid trainer directly |
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I apply for multiple trainees at once? | Yes — one application can cover multiple employees, each with their own $10K maximum. |
| Does training have to be delivered at an NB location? | No — eligible trainers from anywhere in Canada qualify; online delivery from accredited providers is accepted. |
| Can a new employee use CANJBG? | Yes — new hires qualify as long as they are on your payroll at the time of training. |
| Can I apply if training has already started? | No — retroactive claims are not accepted. Apply before training begins. |
| Is there a French-language requirement? | For Francophone employees, WorkingNB expects you to make reasonable efforts to identify French-language training options. |
The Canada-New Brunswick Job Grant (CANJBG) is a cost-sharing program that reimburses up to two-thirds of eligible training costs, capped at $10,000 per trainee. The employer pays the remaining one-third. Training must be delivered by an eligible external trainer — not internal staff. Applications go through WorkingNB and must be submitted before training begins. Eligible costs include tuition, registration fees, required textbooks, and exam fees directly tied to the training.
Workforce Expansion is a New Brunswick wage subsidy program that covers a portion of wages (up to 70%) for employers who hire employees from priority populations: youth under 30, persons with disabilities, Indigenous individuals, newcomers to Canada, and certain other groups. Unlike CANJBG, which covers training fees, Workforce Expansion covers employment wages. Both programs can run simultaneously on the same employee — CANJBG covers the training cost while Workforce Expansion covers part of the wage cost. Apply through WorkingNB for both programs.
The One-Job Pledge provides $10,000 to NB employers who hire a New Brunswick post-secondary graduate who has been living and working outside the province. The grant is paid in two installments: $5,000 at 6 months of continued employment and $5,000 at 12 months. The position must be a newly-created, permanent, full-time role. This program has periodic intake windows — contact WorkingNB to verify it is currently accepting applications before using it as a recruitment incentive.
Yes, with conditions. CANJBG (training fees) can be stacked with Workforce Expansion (wages) because they cover different cost categories for the same employee. CANJBG can also be stacked with SWILP (co-op placement wages) if the student is attending a separate certified training program while on placement. The AJCTC (federal apprenticeship tax credit) covers apprentice wages on your T2 and does not conflict with CANJBG. Always disclose all government funding sources in each application and confirm stacking eligibility with your WorkingNB officer.
Yes. CANJBG covers the in-school tuition charged by NBCC or another eligible institution for a registered NB apprentice's school block. The federal Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC) provides a 10% non-refundable credit on wages paid to the same apprentice during years 1 and 2, up to $2,000 per apprentice per year, claimed on your T2 Schedule 31. The two programs cover different costs (training fees vs. wage credits) and can both be used. If the apprentice is under 30, Workforce Expansion may also apply for the wage subsidy portion during early employment.
New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. Under CANJBG guidelines, employers with Francophone employees are expected to make reasonable efforts to identify French-language training options when they exist. This means checking whether La Cité campuses (Dieppe, Edmundston, Campbellton, Bathurst, Shippagan) or Université de Moncton (Moncton, Shippagan, Edmundston) offers the certification before defaulting to an English-only provider. WorkingNB officers will note this during application review. Applications are processed in both English and French.
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