Funded by the B.C. Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative
The program will support skills training and paid work placements for B.C. youth aged 16-30 to develop skills and work experience for success in the workforce while reducing income assistance dependencies. British Columbia’s manufacturing employers participating in the program will receive a financial subsidy of up to $3,500 for each youth work placement.
- Employers
- Participants
- Educators
About the Program
Hiring youth can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to your manufacturing company. By providing opportunities for young individuals, you can contribute to their professional development and foster a skilled workforce for the future. Embracing the talents of youth not only cultivates a dynamic work environment but also enables your business to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving industry.
Through EMC’s B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative, eligible employers receive access to skills training and financial subsidy of up to $3,500 to offset onboarding, on-the-job training and wage costs for eligible new hires.
Program Funding
Eligible employers will receive up to $3,500 per placement to offset onboarding, on-the-job training and wage costs for participants aged 16-30. The B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative can support multiple placements per manufacturer.
Program Training
All youth participants are given access to EMC’s online learning modules, including Manufacturing Foundations, AI in the Manufacturing Workplace and Lean Fundamentals.
Program Success
The B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative can be broken down into 5 easy steps:
- Apply: Applications are online and take 5 minutes to complete. Applications are open on a rolling entry basis and can be submitted within 1 month of hire or before a participant has been hired.
- Consent Forms: Once your application has been accepted, our team will be in touch to provide you with consent participation forms.
- Online Learning: Participants receive access to the training modules at the start of the placement. Youth must complete the training modules to receive the incentive.
- Employment: Youth work towards the hours worked requirements. (240 hours for youth in high school, 320 for all other youth participants)
- Incentive Processing: Once the learning and hours required are completed, the EMC team will work with you to collect the documentation needed to process the incentive!
Funded by:
Eligibility
Employer Eligibility
To be eligible for funding through EMC’s B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative, an employer must be part of the manufacturing sector (NAICS 31-33) and operate in British Columbia.
Participant Eligibility
To be eligible, youth participants must be:
- a resident of British Columbia (Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Refugee)
- eligible to work in Canada
- aged 16-30 (at start of program)
- a current high school student, post-secondary student enrolled in a program that does not have a work integrated learning/co-op component or not enrolled in education or training
Still have questions? Download our FAQ for more information.
Download FAQs
Get a Head Start With A Career in Manufacturing
Manufacturing – where creativity merges with technology to bring ideas to life. Experience a sense of pride in transforming raw materials into innovative products that shape our world. Explore careers that empower you to create, innovate and leave a lasting impact on society through the exciting world of manufacturing.
Imagine shaping Canada’s future by creating everyday essentials. Picture yourself at the heart of cutting-edge tech, crafting items that touch daily lives, things you buy and use daily. Engage in dynamic work that keeps both your mind and body in action. If digital tech excites you and you are drawn to hands-on work, this program is your gateway. And the best part? A rewarding, stable career awaits. If this sparks your curiosity, the manufacturing world is calling your name.
Program Highlights
Develop core employability and life skills through EMC’s industry-recognized learning material:
With EMC’s Manufacturing Foundations course, you’ll jump into the heart of manufacturing and into key topics such as:
- Adaptability and Resilience
- Effective Problem Solving
- Team building
- Communications
- Managing Conflict & Difficult Interactions
- Attitude in the Workplace
- Accountability
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Accountability in the Workplace
- Health and Safety
In EMC’s Lean Fundamentals course you’ll get acquainted with the essence of Lean Thinking, from Value Stream mapping to the art of Kaizen. But it’s not just theory – you’ll put knowledge into action with a hands-on lean project. Finish up, and you’re certified, demonstrating your understanding of the Lean Thinking principles for the manufacturing world.
- Explore career options and opportunities throughout your placement.
- Learn from seasoned professionals through the mentorship program.
Eligibility
Participant Eligibility
To be eligible, youth participants must be:
- a resident of British Columbia (Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Refugee)
- eligible to work in Canada
- aged 16-30 (at start of program)
- a current high school student, post-secondary student enrolled in a program that does not have a work integrated learning/co-op component or not enrolled in education or training
Looking to work in manufacturing?
Access available postings through B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative’s application system!
For more information
Download Info Sheet
Success Stories Straight from the Production Floor
Since launching in September 2023, EMC’s B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative has supported 437 youth placements with $1.5 million in wage incentives returned directly to manufacturers across the province.
Now, we’re building on that success. From September 2026 to March 2029, the next iteration of B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative, funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, will support up to 510 additional youth placements.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what manufacturers who have participated in the program have to say about the difference youth are making on the production floor.
Training & Support - from Industry
“The funding allowed us to bring on youth hires who supported projects and gave us the capacity to make progress in areas like inventory tracking and as broad as helping with website development.
What stands out most for me as the most helpful aspect of the program, is it helps us invest in the next generation of workers. By exposing young people to our business, we’re able to identify promising talent early and potentially develop future long-term team members. The employee pipeline is the biggest benefit I believe.Two of our placements have already decided to stay on as long-term part-time workers!”
– Richmond, BC – Food Processing
“We are participants in the B.C. Youth in Manufacturing Initiative for a few years now and have welcomed many youths into our production team through the program.
Many of these individuals have become valuable members of our team. Some have joined us for the summer break, and quite a few have stayed on permanently. We had several strong hires come through during this time, motivated, capable individuals who have contributed significantly to our operations. That’s been a real win for us.”
– Chilliwack, BC – Fabricated Wood Products
Eligibility
Participant Eligibility
To be eligible, youth participants must be:
- a resident of British Columbia (Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Refugee)
- eligible to work in Canada
- aged 16-30 (at start of program)
- a current high school student, post-secondary student enrolled in a program that does not have a work integrated learning/co-op component or not enrolled in education or training
EMC’s B.C. Youth in Manufacturing initiative is available to manufacturers with youth completing Work Experience (WEX) terms.