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Free Provincial Employment Services in Canada: Where to Get Job Search Help
How free provincial employment services such as Employment Ontario, WorkBC, alis and Alberta Supports, Québec Emploi, SaskJobs and Nova Scotia Works can help you find work and training.
Job sites show you vacancies, but they cannot sit down with you, fix your résumé or tell you which training is worth doing. That is what provincial employment services are for. Provinces offer free employment help, usually through local centres, plus an online job board or career planning site. If you are changing careers, returning to work or applying for your first job, a visit can save weeks of guesswork.
What provincial services offer
Services differ by province, but most offer one-on-one help from an employment counsellor, résumé and interview coaching, job search workshops, information about local employers and help finding training. Here are the main services in some of the larger provinces:
- Ontario: Employment Ontario offers free one-on-one support with résumés, interview practice, skills training and job search, and connects job seekers with employers. Its Better Jobs Ontario program helps pay for tuition and living expenses during job training, and there is help for youth and students. You can find a nearby office through the employment and training services finder.
- British Columbia: WorkBC runs a provincial job board and industry job boards, and WorkBC Centres provide free personalized job search support, including résumé help. Its career tools include Career Discovery Quizzes, Career Profiles and a Career Transition Tool.
- Alberta: alis has occupation profiles (OCCinfo) listing duties, training and certification requirements, links to job banks, and FutureConnect, a free career coaching service with virtual appointments. Alberta Supports connects people with government employment and income support programs.
- Quebec: Québec Emploi is the free online employment site of the Gouvernement du Québec, with full-time, part-time, seasonal and student jobs and paid internships. Services Québec offices offer in-person employment help.
- Saskatchewan: SaskJobs lists jobs across the province by occupation, region and community, and links to SaskJobs Career Services.
- Nova Scotia: Employment Nova Scotia runs programs including Nova Scotia Works for job seekers.
Other provinces and territories have similar services; search your provincial government's website for "employment services".
Who it suits
These services suit almost anyone, but they are especially valuable if you:
- Need a licence or certificate for the job you want, such as a commercial driver's licence, security guard licence, forklift training or a personal support worker program
- Have been out of work for a while or are changing to a new field
- Are new to Canada and want to understand how hiring works here
- Are young and looking for a first job, a summer job or an apprenticeship
How to search well
Use the provincial job board alongside Job Bank, since some local employers post only in one place. Read occupation profiles before you train, so you know which certificates employers in your province actually ask for. Ask your counsellor about local hiring events and employers who are taking on new staff, and set up alerts on whichever job board your province uses.
How to apply and get the most from a counsellor
Bring a draft résumé, a list of jobs you are interested in and any certificates you already have to your first appointment. Be honest about your situation, including your transport, childcare and shift availability, so the counsellor can point you to realistic options. Ask directly whether you may qualify for help with training costs or work placements.
Stay safe
Government-funded employment services are free. Be wary of private "job placement" businesses that ask you for money. In Ontario, for example, the Employment Standards Act says a temporary help agency cannot charge you a fee for becoming its employee, for being assigned to work or for help with résumés and interview preparation. Never pay a fee to apply for a job, and report suspicious offers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do provincial employment services cost anything?
The core services, such as job search help, résumé support and career advice, are free. Never pay a fee to apply for a job or to be placed in one.
Can they help pay for training such as a truck licence or PSW course?
Some provinces have programs that help with training costs. In Ontario, Better Jobs Ontario helps pay for tuition and living expenses during training. Ask a counsellor what you may qualify for.
Do I need an appointment?
It is usually best to book. Employment Ontario lets you book an appointment with an employment counsellor, and WorkBC Centres offer one-on-one support.
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Sources
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and may not fit your situation or country. Rules, prices and requirements change, so check the details with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Read our full disclaimer.