Get skills training and financial support when you qualify for Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career).

Overview

Better Jobs Ontario provides eligible applicants with:

• skills training for in-demand jobs
• financial support

Better Jobs Ontario aims to help you rejoin the workforce quickly. The program offers funding for both:

• short-term training programs that take 52 weeks or less to complete, including micro-credential programs
• longer duration programs that take 2 years or less to complete

You can apply for up to:

• $28,000 for training that is 1 year or less in duration
• $35,000 for programs that are more than 1 year in duration

The costs this funding can cover include:

• tuition
• books
• other instructional costs, including student fees, supplies and electronic devices
• transportation
• basic living allowance (up to $500 per week)

Additional funding may be available for:

• childcare
• disability-related supports
• living away from home
• Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)
• language training

Eligibility

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

• been laid off and have not been working
• been laid off and are working a temporary job just to cover costs
• not been laid-off, but have been unemployed for 12 weeks or longer and are part of a low-income household

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)

Apply to Better Jobs Ontario

To apply to Better Jobs Ontario, you’ll work with an Employment Ontario service provider. These staff are trained to:

• help you decide if this program is right for you
• help you to complete your application

Find a service provider in your community and make an appointment.

Service provider staff will help you gather the information needed to support your application to Better Jobs Ontario.

Preparing your application

When preparing your application, you may have to show:

• how long you have been unemployed, or working your temporary job, and looking for work
• level of education obtained
• previous employment, how long you worked there and skills that were required
• what skills you want to obtain and where you can get trained in them

The amount of support you may receive is based on individual needs and available funding.

When you apply to Better Jobs Ontario, you must provide information to support a financial needs assessment, such as:

• some of the costs to be covered during training (meaning tuition and books)
• your gross (before tax) household income

School information 

You must research at least three training institutions to make sure they offer the training you need. Make sure to include at least: 

• one college of applied arts and technology 
• one private career college 

You are only required to research one training institution if you either: 

• pay for your tuition and training costs on your own 
• apply through the fast-track process 

Find a college of applied arts or technology or private career college near you.