In November 2023, the Provincial Government launched a new Poverty Reduction Plan to improve the overall well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The plan included a commitment to develop programming to help Income Support and other non-Employment Insurance (EI) eligible individuals secure meaningful and stable employment.
Today, applications are being accepted for the new Working Opportunities Program. Funded through a $3.5 million provincial investment in Budget 2024, the Working Opportunities Program will enable individuals who are not eligible for the federally funded Skills Development Program to avail of similar financial supports for training.
Working Opportunities enables non-EI eligible individuals with barriers to workforce participation and post-secondary education to retrain and upskill, creating more stable employment and improving their well-being. This program will also help address shortages in the workforce.
The program will support people eligible to attend post-secondary schooling that will lead to employment, including funding for a living allowance, child care and costs of training. Participants will attend full-time post-secondary programs that are a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of three years in duration at a public or private training institution in Newfoundland and Labrador
To find out more about the Working Opportunities Program, please go to www.gov.nl.ca/ipgs/working-opportunities/ or visit one of our 19 Employment Centres throughout Newfoundland and Labrador www.gov.nl.ca/ipgs/department/contact-emp/
Quotes
“Some individuals who want to participate in employment training have been unable to access training because they have not been recently eligible for EI and therefore are not eligible for the federal Skills Development program. People in this situation may be long-term unemployed and receiving Income Support or may be underemployed with barriers to post-secondary training and are without financial support. The new Working Opportunities Program addresses this gap by providing funding for education and training programs.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
“Working Opportunities will help to remove educational barriers for vulnerable individuals who could not avail of other training programs to obtain the skills and education to secure meaningful long-term-employment. This innovative program will assist those eager to train for the many jobs that are currently in high demand, such as those in the health and child care sectors.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
-30-