What is Work-Sharing Program (Enhanced)?
Work-Sharing Program (Enhanced) is delivered by ESDC as a wage subsidy. Funding is typically up to 55% of employees' insurable earnings. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Up to 55% of employees' insurable earnings |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (EI-based benefit) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Wage Subsidy |
| Delivered by | ESDC |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - tariff special measures to March 31, 2028; WRRP retraining component open from Oct 16, 2026 |
| Last verified | 2026-10-26 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All industries facing temporary work reduction
- Employee count: min 2
- Eligible activities: Avoid layoffs by reducing hours; employees receive EI benefits for reduced hours
Watch out for
Permanent layoffs or shutdown; fewer than 2 affected employees; operating in Canada under 1 year
Deadlines & how to apply
Tariff special measures run to March 31, 2028 (canada.ca Work-Sharing page, modified Sept 4, 2026). Under tariff measures: minimum agreement 4 weeks, maximum up to 152 weeks; mandatory cooling-off period waived; eligibility expanded to employers operating in Canada 1+ year, non-profits and charities, seasonal or cyclical employers, and employers with a work decline under 10%. NEW: the Workforce Retention and Retraining Program (WRRP) opened Oct 16, 2026. Apply through a GCOS account: complete the Work-Sharing component first, then the Retraining Grant component with the ESDC grant calculator. Window Oct 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027. ESDC aims to decide within 45 days of a complete application; costs incurred before a signed funding agreement may not be reimbursed.
How NorthGrants helps with Work-Sharing Program (Enhanced)
Most business owners read about Work-Sharing Program (Enhanced), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.