BioTalent Career Starter Program

Could you use $20,000 in wage subsidies to help grow the bio-economy?

The Career Starter Program facilitates the transition of barriered youth into the labour market. It bridges the gap between talent and industry, introduces participants to the bio-economy as a viable career path, and enables employers to strengthen their workforce.

Program Description

Career Starter provides bio-economy employers with 50% of a youth’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 in wage subsidies for a three to nine-month job placement. This will help the employer adopt a diverse and inclusive work culture while satisfying their need for skilled labour.

The program encourages employers to open the bio-economy’s doors to barriered youth. As Canada faces a shortage of 65,000 workers in the bio-economy by 2029, Career Starter introduces employers to skilled labour in places they may not have otherwise considered looking.

In addition to the wage subsidy, the program can provide additional supports including:

• internal job coaching;

• access to BioTalent Canada’s suite of Essential Skills and Technical Skills training courses; and

• Onboarding tools for employers, including a diversity and inclusion HR policy template; and on-going monitoring to ensure program success.