Better Jobs Ontario

Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career) is an Ontario government program designed to help people who have been laid off since January 1, 2005, and are currently unemployed or underemployed and working less than 20 hours a week. You do not need to be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) to be eligible.

Better Jobs Ontario can help you with skills training for in-demand jobs and financial support. Better Jobs Ontario aims to help you quickly rejoin the workforce and offers funding for different types of programs.

Short term

• Short-term training programs that take 52 weeks or less to complete (including micro-credential programs)
• $28,000 for training that is one year or less in duration
• Basic living allowance (up to $500/week)
• Help with the costs of tuition, books, transportation and other instructional costs (including student fees, supplies, and electronic devices)
• Additional funding may be available for childcare, disability related supports, living away from home, language training and Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)

Long term

• Longer duration programs that take two years or less to complete
• $35,000 for programs that are more than one year in duration
• Basic living allowance (up to $500/week)
• Help with the costs of tuition, books, transportation and other instructional costs (including student fees, supplies, and electronic devices)
• Additional funding may be available for childcare, disability related supports, living away from home, language training and Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)

 

You may qualify for Better Jobs Ontario if you have either been:

• Laid off and have not been working
• Laid off and are working a temporary job to cover costs
• Unemployed for 12 weeks or longer and are part of a low-income household (but have not been laid off)

You can still apply if you receive any of the following forms of income assistance:

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

Better Jobs Ontario aims to help you quickly rejoin the workforce. The program offers funding for both short-term training programs that take 52 weeks or less to complete, including micro-credential programs and longer-duration programs that take two years or less to complete.