Training voucher program receives $2.2 million in funding

The program targets workers whose employment has been impacted by recent economic hardships or shifts. Eligible clients may be re-trained to find work in another career.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we recognize economic challenges caused by COVID-19 have impacted some Saskatchewan workers who might want to develop new skills as they re-enter the labour force,” said Jeremy Harrison, minister of immigration and career training. “The Training Voucher Program will help us achieve the important goal of training and retaining a skilled workforce to match employer needs and help drive Saskatchewan’s economic growth.”

Funded by the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Transfer Agreements, the training voucher program covers agreements with public and private training institutions, targeting employment sectors such as information technology, health care, and hospitality.

The province hopes that the $2.2 million funding package will make career re-training more accessible and affordable by helping workers cover costs such as tuition, books, and other school supplies.

Participating public training institutions include:

• Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• Carlton Trail College
• Cumberland College
• Great Plains College
• Lakeland College
• Northlands College
• North West College
• Parkland College
• Southeast College
• Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
• Gabriel Dumont Institute

The following private training institutions are also included:

• 18-Wheels Training Services
• Lifemark Health Group
• Northern Resource Trucking
• Academy of Learning
• Saskatoon Business College

The program cannot be used for apprenticeship training or part-time training of fewer than 10 hours a week.

Participants must have authorization from the provincial government and from SaskJobs Career Services either before they start their training, or within six weeks of starting their training.

SaskJobs Career Services will work with clients to develop a plan for their career and to determine their eligibility for the training voucher program.

Career Services can be contacted at 1-833-613-0485, or by email at [email protected].

Eligibility criteria include being at least 16, facing skills-related barriers to employment, being ready and willing to work, and being either unemployed or working 16 hours a week or less.