Better Jobs Ontario

Program Details

Eligibility

You qualify for Better Jobs Ontario if you either:

• Have been laid-off and have not been working or are working a temporary job just to cover costs
• Have not been laid-off but have been unemployed for six months or longer and are part of a low-income household

You can still apply if you receive either:

• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

 Laid-off due to COVID-19?

While the Better Jobs Ontario program is open to unemployed jobseekers, a fast-track stream is available if you were laid-off because of COVID-19 and want to retrain for jobs in sectors that have the potential for future employment.

If your application meets all the following criteria, you will go through a faster approval process, giving you access to training sooner:

• You were laid off on or after March 1, 2020.
• You have a high school education or less, you were laid-off from an occupation requiring no more than a high school education and job-specific training, such as food and beverage servers, flight attendants, and retail salespersons.
• You were laid-off from an industry hit hard by the pandemic, such as hospitality and food services, transportation and warehousing, or wholesale and retail trade.
• You want to train for a career in demand in a local community or provincial priority area.

Better Jobs Ontario provides eligible applicants with:

• skills training for in-demand jobs
• financial support

You can apply for up to $28,000 for costs, including:

• tuition
• books
• other instructional costs, including student fees, supplies and electronic devices
• transportation
• basic living allowance (up to $500 per week)

Additional funding may be available for:

• childcare
• disability-related supports
• living away from home
• Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) and/or language training

For further information click on the link below: https://www.ontario.ca/page/better-jobs-ontario

Criteria

When preparing your application, you also have to show:

• How long you have been unemployed or working in your temporary job and looking for work.
• Places you have applied and positions you have applied for.
• What level of education you have reached.
• Where you worked before, for how long and what skills you need for that work.
• What skills you want to get and where you can get trained in them.
• Information showing the skills and job you want to train for are in demand.

Duration

Can complete an application at GREAT, throughout the year.

Program Supports

Financial Assistance if APPROVED by MAESD if you qualify for Second Career

Can apply for up to $28,000, for costs.

Which can include:

• Tuition
• Books
• Manuals, work boots or other instructional costs
• Transportation
• Basic living allowance (Max $410 per week)
• Child care

Apply Now