Funding: Employment Assistance for Older Workers

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers helps unemployed workers aged 55 to 64 return to work.

The initiative is cost-shared with the provinces and territories and provides employment assistance services, such as resumé writing and counselling, and improves participants’ employability through activities such as skills upgrading and work experience. The provinces and territories design and deliver projects aimed at unemployed older workers in communities that:

  • have a population of 250,000 or less; and
  • are experiencing ongoing high unemployment; and/or
  • have a high reliance on a single industry affected by downsizing or closures.

Who can apply?

To be eligible, participants must:

  • be aged 55 to 64;
    • in some circumstances, unemployed workers aged 50 to 54 or 65 and over may also participate;
  • be unemployed;
  • be legally entitled to work in Canada;
  • require new or enhanced skills to successfully transition into new employment; and
  • live in an eligible community.

How to apply?

Individual clients and project sponsors may apply for funding by contacting their Province or Territory.