I realise that summer is still a few months away but it is not too early to start thinking about your staffing plans for the summer. My experiences with hiring summer students have all been positive. They were eager to learn and work! Great attributes in any employee!
If you are interested in hiring a summer student there are a number of government programs to assist with wages and training. But don’t wait too long to start planning. Deadlines for grant applications vary between the end of January to mid-March.
The Canada Summer Jobs program is designed to focus on local priorities while helping both students and their communities. The deadline for grant application is 29 February. Not-for-profit employers were eligible for 100% funding of the provincial minimum hourly wage per student. Private sector employees with 50 or fewer employees are eligible for funding for up to 50% of the provincial minimum hourly wage rate. Details of the program can be found on the Services Canada website or by calling: 1-800-935-5555.
Young Canada Works is funded by Heritage Canada and administers three summer job programs for students: YCW for Aboriginal Youth in Urban Area; YCW in Heritage Organization; and YCW in Both Official Languages. A total of 2,780 jobs are subsidized under these three programs. The programs may contribute up to 75 percent of the student’s employment costs (wages, benefits and other eligible expenditures) to a maximum of $8,000 per job and $50,000 per employer. Deadline for application is 1 February 2012.
In New Brunswick, the Student Employment Experience Development program provides funding to municipalities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and First Nation communities to hire students for a minimum of eight weeks. The deadline for application is March 1st. Contact the regional office of the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour closest to you for more information.
SkillsPEI administers the Post-Secondary Student Program funded by the government of Prince Edward Island. The Program is designed to create jobs for post-secondary students by providing a financial incentive to Island employers who provide students with summer employment in their field of study. Details of the program for 2012 will be on-line in early February. In 2011, private sector employers were refunded between $5.23 and $5.66 per hour paid while non-profit and public sector employers received between $10.46 and $11.32 per hour for up to 40 hours per week. Employment had to be provided for a minimum of 8 weeks to a maximum of 14 weeks.
The Health Care Futures Program provides Island students with summer employment in health care facilities throughout the province. Last year, the program paid between $9.83 and $10.81 per hour for 37.5 hours per week. The Nursing Student Summer Employment program provides employment for up to 12 weeks for Nursing Students who have successfully completed at least one year of a recognized Bachelor Degree in Nursing Program or Practical Nursing Diploma Program. Application for both of these Programs will be available on line in early February.
In Nova Scotia, the Student Career Skills Development Program (SCSDP) partners with not-for-profit organizations to create career-related summer jobs for post-secondary students. The jobs are distributed across the province based on population and unemployment for each county. Deadline for application is 31 January 2012.
While it is not a “summer student” program per se, the Strategic Cooperative Education Incentive provides private sector, government-funded and non-profit organizations 50 per cent of the required minimum hourly wage of $15.00 an hour for co-operative education opportunities. This program assists high-value businesses and organizations across the region to recruit and retain students for work placements. Deadline for applications are 31 January, 25 May, and 21 September.
