Do you find yourself having to reinvent your career? Maybe you were laid off, or your industry no longer offers the stability it used to, or you simply want to get into a line of work with more opportunity.
If you’re looking to retrain, upskill, and re-enter the workforce, Better Jobs Ontario can be a powerful resource. It’s a government-funded program designed to help people get the skills training they need to launch a new career.
Keep reading to find out what Better Jobs Ontario is all about and how you can take advantage of it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How Better Jobs Ontario Works
- Who Can Apply
- What the Program Covers
- How to Apply
- Frequently Asked Questions
HOW BETTER JOBS ONTARIO WORKS
Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) is a provincial government program designed to support people who need retraining to access in-demand, meaningful employment.
Eligible applicants receive both skills training and financial assistance to help them complete training and transition into a new career path.
The program specifically targets those who need a helping hand getting back on their feet, including recently laid-off workers, those who have been underemployed or unemployed for extended periods, and people whose jobs have been affected by automation or economic shifts.
WHO CAN APPLY
Better Jobs Ontario is targeted at individuals who face real barriers or challenges in entering (or re-entering) the workforce. Generally, you may qualify if you meet one of these situations:
- You’ve been laid off and are unemployed or are only working a low-skill interim job to make ends meet. Note that BJO also considers you “laid off” if you:
- Had a fixed-term contract that expired
- Received maternity or parental benefits and want to get back into the workforce
- Left work due to medical reasons
- Lost your job and then became self-employed
- You are part of a low-income household and have been unemployed for at least 12 weeks.
“Better Jobs Ontario used to be called Second Career, and it was given to people who had been laid off from their previous employment so that they could train for a new career,” says Namrata Arora, associate director of admissions for Herzing College Toronto.
“Then they changed the eligibility criteria and started including others in that pool. So even if you have not been laid off, if you’ve been out of work for a very long time, you are eligible. If you had a business during COVID that shut down and you’ve not been able to find work after that, you are eligible. And then the main one is if you have been laid off from your previous employment.”
Because BJO is meant to direct people toward in-demand jobs, your proposed training must align with occupations that have good employment prospects in Ontario. A “suitability assessment” is part of the application process.
Note: Receiving employment supports from Employment Insurance (EI), Ontario Works (OW), or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) does not automatically disqualify you. Better Jobs Ontario remains an option even if you receive those supports.
WHAT THE PROGRAM COVERS
When you are approved under Better Jobs Ontario, the support can be substantial. The funding can include:
- Tuition for eligible training programs
- Books
- Other costs like student fees and laptops
- Transportation costs for attending in-person classes or placements
- A basic living allowance to help with living expenses (e.g., rent, food, utilities) while in training. The allowance may be as much as $500 per week, though exact amounts depend on your financial needs assessment.
- Additional support when required, like childcare, disability supports, help with living away from home, language training, or academic upgrading
The program recently expanded to allow support for training up to two years in duration. Funding may reach up to $35,000.
HOW TO APPLY TO BETTER JOBS ONTARIO
Here are the steps to follow:
- Find an Employment Ontario service provider. Better Jobs Ontario applications are handled by certified agencies under the Employment Ontario network.
- Prepare required documents. Commonly required items include:
- Proof of unemployment or layoff
- Your education history and past employment history
- Income/household information for a needs assessment
- Information about the training you want (cost, duration, evidence that it leads to in-demand employment)
- Research and select eligible training institutions. You must research at least three training institutions offering the program you want. That research must include at least one college of applied arts & technology and at least one private career college.
- Submit the application package through your service provider. Once your application is complete, the service provider submits it for eligibility and suitability assessment (including financial need).
- Wait for confirmation and approval. You should receive a confirmation of receipt within two business days of submission. Final decisions can take a few months.
“When you start applying to BJO, the first person you meet is a caseworker at an employment centre,” says Namrata. “That could be Access Employment, YMCA, etc. Then the caseworker works with you in stage two to get all the documentation collected.
“Once you are approved, you get a contract from BJO that you need to sign. The contract includes a page that has the payment distribution, where it tells you how much money will come to your account and when. You need to sign the contract and send it to us.”
Do not start your training before getting approved. You won’t be reimbursed for any costs that were not pre-approved.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Better Jobs Ontario only for short-term programs?
As of August 2025, Better Jobs Ontario supports training up to two years in duration.
How much funding is available?
Eligible individuals may receive up to $28,000 for training that takes a year or less and up to $35,000 for training that takes between one and two years.
Does Better Jobs Ontario cover all my expenses?
Better Jobs Ontario can cover tuition, books, and basic living costs, but exactly what you will receive depends on your financial need, household income, and the costs of your proposed training. A portion of costs may still be expected from you, depending on your income.
What kinds of training are eligible?
Training must lead to a certificate or diploma in a career/occupation considered in demand, with good employment prospects in Ontario. Programs should align with labour market needs.
What if I receive EI, OW, or ODSP?
You can still apply. Receiving these supports does not automatically disqualify you.
I was laid off and received severance pay. Can I still qualify for Better Jobs Ontario?
Receiving severance does not automatically disqualify you. However, that money will count as household income when your financial need is assessed.
GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED
If you’re considering a career change, especially if you’ve lost a job or have been unemployed or underemployed for some time, Better Jobs Ontario could be your bridge to a more stable, rewarding future.
At Herzing College, we’re ready to help you explore your options. Contact us today to learn more about programs that qualify under Better Jobs Ontario and get help with your application. Your next career could be just one decision away.
