Better Jobs Ontario

Better Jobs Ontario helps unemployed people or laid-off workers rejoin the workforce.

If you have been unemployed for six months or longer, and are part of a low-income household, you may be eligible to receive skills training for in-demand jobs and financial support.

|  FIND A NEW CAREER

Better Jobs Ontario is a Government of Ontario program that provides up to $28,000 for tuition, books and other instructional costs, transportation, childcare, disability-related supports, literacy and basic skills training, and a basic living allowance (up to $500 per week).

With fewer eligibility requirements than the former Second Career program, Better Jobs Ontario is helping more people train for new careers and find sustainable employment.

|  HAVE YOU BEEN LAID OFF DUE TO COVID-19?

While the Better Jobs Ontario program is open to unemployed job seekers, a fast-track stream is available if you were laid-off because of COVID-19 and want to retrain for jobs in sectors that have potential for future employment.

If your application meets all the following criteria, you will go through a faster approval process, giving you access to training sooner:

• You were laid-off on or after March 1, 2020.
• You have a high school education or less, you were laid-off from an occupation requiring no more than a high school education and job-specific training, such as food and beverage servers, flight attendants and retail salespersons.
• You were laid-off from an industry hit hard by the pandemic, such as hospitality and food services, transportation and warehousing or wholesale and retail trade.
• You want to train for a career in demand in a local community or provincial priority area.

|  ELIGIBILITY

You may qualify for Better Jobs Ontario if you either:

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

You can still apply if you receive either:

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

Eligibility depends on additional factors. To learn more or to find out if you are eligible to receive Better Jobs Ontario funding that can set you on a pathway to a great career and employment income, contact your nearest employment service provider.

|  CONSIDER TRAINING AT FLEMING COLLEGE

Fleming College has been providing high quality, career-focused educational programming for more than 50 years. Our certificates, diplomas and graduate certificates are widely recognized and valued by employers, and we constantly deliver new programs that reflect demands of the regional and provincial job market.

Feeling unsure about returning to school? Our support services will help you succeed. From tutoring to counselling right through to job placement, we’ll make sure you have the tools to thrive in and out of the classroom.

We offer small class sizes, and our dedicated faculty have industry experience and expertise. Our unique learning environments and state-of-the-art labs and equipment will further prepare you for the career of your choice. Most of our programs include hands-on, experiential learning components, giving you the real-world skills and confidence to succeed in the workplace.

Programs to Consider

The following career-focused academic programs are eligible for Better Jobs funding:

Take a look through the Fleming College Viewbook for more programs that may be of interest to you!

|  TO APPLY

Work with your local Employment Service Provider to apply for Better Jobs.  Service Provider  staff will answer your questions, determine your eligibility, guide you through the application process, and help you choose a career that’s right for you! Find an Employment Service Provider in Ontario here or view a list of Muskoka-Kawarthas service providers below:

Haliburton   |   Kawartha Lakes   |   Muskoka   |  Northumberland   |   Peterborough