What is Worker Retention Grant (Work-Sharing Training Top-Up)?
Worker Retention Grant (Work-Sharing Training Top-Up) is delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada as a grant. Funding is typically varies by agreement (participants, duration, reduction rate); covers the employer-paid income supplement plus employer EI and CPP costs. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Varies by agreement (participants, duration, reduction rate); covers the employer-paid income supplement plus employer EI and CPP costs |
|---|---|
| Cost share | 100% government (for qualifying wage top-up during training) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant |
| Delivered by | Employment and Social Development Canada |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - applications accepted Oct 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 (via WRRP) |
| Last verified | 2026-10-26 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All — employers with active Work-Sharing agreements
- Employee count: min 2
- Eligible activities: Top-up income for employees in active Work-Sharing agreements who are taking approved training during reduced hours.
Watch out for
No active Work-Sharing agreement; no training component; permanent layoff scenarios
Deadlines & how to apply
Now delivered as the Retraining Grant component of the Workforce Retention and Retraining Program (WRRP). Applications accepted Oct 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 (3pm EST). For employers with a Work-Sharing agreement who commit to training. Apply via GCOS: complete the Work-Sharing component first, then the Retraining Grant component with the ESDC grant calculator; a tracking number confirms submission. ESDC aims to decide within 45 days; costs before a signed agreement may not be reimbursed; decisions are final. Grant weeks cannot go beyond the Work-Sharing agreement or March 31, 2028.
How NorthGrants helps with Worker Retention Grant (Work-Sharing Training Top-Up)
Most business owners read about Worker Retention Grant (Work-Sharing Training Top-Up), 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.