ECO Employment Programs
For over 20 years, we have been connecting environmental employers and skilled junior talent through wage and training funding programs to drive valuable on-the-job work experience and essential skills development.
Thanks to the support of our funders – Natural Resources Canada, Climate Change Canada, Social Development Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – we can offer you wage subsidies to increase organization capacity and support your business participation in the green economy.
By helping your team with wage and training costs, we make hiring new talent more attractive. Additionally, we have a dedicated employment program website where you can find more information and resources tailored to your needs and easily apply to specific programs.
Employer Programs
Benefits for Employers:
- Increase work capacity
- Access talented youth with new ideas & skills
- Increase employee retention
- Reduce staff training costs
- Strengthen overall business operations
- Support the growth of new qualified environmental workers
Participant Program
Benefits for Participants:
- Program provides initial work experience in participants field of study
- Many secure permanent positions within the organization post program
- Networking opportunities for establishing lasting connections with organizations beyond reach through exposure to diverse opportunities
- Funding enables unique opportunities: conferences, external training
- Participants gain invaluable learning experience
- Acquire practical, real-world experience by applying learned skills and developing new ones
- Overcoming financial challenges for participants and employers
- Enhancing job prospects and positioning for future success
Science Horizon Youth Internship
- This program offers an 80% wage reimbursement, covering up to $25,000 for placements lasting between 4 to 12 months.
- Supports careers in climate change, environmental protection, and sustainability.
Student Work Placement
(Co-op)
- This program offers wage reimbursement between 50% and 70%, with funding available up to $5,000 or $7,000 for eligible participants.
- Supports emerging professionals in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and business roles.
Digital Skills for Youth
- This program offers an 80% wage reimbursement, covering up to $20,000, or $25,000 for not-for-profit organizations.
- Helps young professionals gain experience in environmental jobs that require digital skills, such as programming, data analysis, and website development.
Youth in Natural Resources
- This program offers a wage reimbursement of 75%, with coverage up to $20,000 or $30,000 for placements in Northern, Rural, or Remote areas.
- Offers eligible employers salary coverage to create jobs within the natural resources sectors to protect the environment and have a positive environmental outcome.
Growing your teams
We are invested in the future of the Canadian environmental workforce
Therefore, we are invested in every aspect of this program’s success.
From making the initial connection between employers and talent, to conducting in-person visits, and supporting with customized skills training, we are focused on ensuring ECO Employment Programs support the growth of our country’s environmental workforce.
The value of these programs is founded in our commitment to championing the end-to-end careers of Canadian environmental workers. The benefits reach educators, students, new practitioners, environmental professionals, and employers across the country.
Explore Each Employment Program and Apply Online
Learn more about each of the available wage and training funding streams, and your eligibility and get started with your application.
How it Works
- Take an eligibility quiz and complete your application to get approved in one or more of our programs.
- Find an eligible candidate for your approved position and have them submit a participant application for review.
- Confirm your approved candidate and secure your position by signing your funding agreement.
- Send back contracts to our team and start the position!
- Attend an onboarding session, complete your progress reports and provide pay statements to receive your wage funding!
As an approved Host Employer, you are committed to the success of the placement, the candidate and the overall growth of qualified environmental workers in Canada. We look forward to working with your team to meet these objectives!
Funding Partners
