Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

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470 York Street
PO Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 462-5198
Fax: (506) 453-2148

The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL) has several employment offices located around the province to assist New Brunswick citizens with their employment goals. Our staff can help you search for permanent employment, starting with an employment action plan. Based on your interests, skills and hopes for the future, our staff will help you define career goals and assist in making a plan to achieve them. Contact your regional employment office today to get started towards your employment goals.

Regional Offices
BATHURST
300 – 275 Main Street
Bathurst, NB E2A 1A9
Telephone: (506) 549-5766
Fax: (506) 549-5782

CAMPBELLTON
100 – 157 Water Street
Campbellton, NB E3N 3L4
Telephone: (506) 789-2411
Fax: (506) 759-6696

CARAQUET
20E St-Pierre Ouest Blvd.
P.O. Box 5644
Caraquet, NB E1W 1B7
Telephone : (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 726-2728

EDMUNDSTON
308 – 121 de l’ Église Street
P.O. Box 5001
Edmundston, NB E3V 3L3
Telephone : (506) 735-2677
Fax : (506) 735-2527

FREDERICTON
300 St. Mary’s Street
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-2377
Fax: (506) 444-5189

GRAND FALLS
101 – 160 Réservoir Street
Grand Falls, NB E3Z 1G1
Telephone: (506) 475-4025
Fax: (506) 473-7574

MIRAMICHI
152 Pleasant Street
Miramichi, NB E1V 1Y1
Telephone: (506) 627-4000
Fax: (506) 624-5482

MONCTON
320 – 200 Champlain Street
P.O. Box 5001
Dieppe, NB E1A 1P1
Telephone: (506) 869-6944
Fax: (506) 869-6608

NEGUAC
430 Principale Street
Neguac, NB E9G 1M9
Telephone: (506) 776-3996
Fax: (506) 776-3807

PERTH-ANDOVER
19 Station Street,
Perth-Andover, NB E7H 4Y2
Telephone: (506) 273-4559
Fax: (506) 273-2195

RICHIBUCTO
25 Cartier Blvd.
P.O. Box 5004
Richibucto, NB E4W 5R6
Telephone: (506) 523-7602
Fax: (506) 523-4633

SACKVILLE
170 Main Street, Unit C-1
Sackville, NB E4L 4B4
Telephone: (506) 869-6944
Fax: (506) 364-4304

SAINT JOHN
1 Agar Place
P.O. Box 5001
Saint John, NB E2L 4Y9
Telephone: (506) 643-7258
Fax: (506) 643-7443

SHEDIAC
144 – 342 Main Street
Centre-Ville Mall
Shediac, NB E4P 2E7
Telephone: (506) 533-3325
Fax: (506) 533-3340

SHIPPAGAN
182 J.D. Gauthier Blvd.
Shippagan, NB E8S 1P2
Telephone: (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 336-3036

ST. STEPHEN
202 – 73 Milltown Blvd.
Ganong Place
St. Stephen, NB E3L 1G5
Telephone: (506) 466-7627
Fax: (506) 466-7462

TRACADIE
3514 Principale Street, 2nd Floor
Tracadie, NB E1X 1C9
Telephone: (506) 726-2639
Fax: (506) 394-3813

WOODSTOCK
201 – 111 Chapel Street
Woodstock, NB E7M 1G6
Telephone (506) 325-4406
Fax (506) 325-4491

Training and Skills Development (TSD)

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.5097.html

Training and Skills Development (TSD) program has been introduced in an effort to ensure that case managed individuals, whose employment action plan identifies skill development as being necessary, have access to funding to assist them in achieving their goal.

A participant must have an Employment Action Plan that has been developed with a Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Employment Counsellor, who will determine eligibility based on program criteria.

The training must:

be a required component of a participant’s Employment Action Plan
lead to sustainable employment

Training and Skills Development (TSD) selectively provides grants to people who meet the program criteria. The focus of the program is to help clients receive training or educational programs which will allow them to return quickly to work.

The TSD duration is limited to:

a maximum of two consecutive years for a regular post-secondary training program
a maximum of one year for academic upgrading for grade levels 7 to 9 and two consecutive years for grade levels 10 to 12
a maximum of 10 weeks for levels 5-6 and a maximum of 12 weeks for GED preparation
a maximum of three consecutive years for a co-operative training program

The level of TSD funding is determined by an Employment Counsellor and may cover a portion of tuition and books as well as other training expenses.
Contact your regional office for more information.

Training and Employment Support Services (Tess) for Persons with Disabilities

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.17056.html
Email : dpetlinfo@gnb.ca

DIEPPE
Place 1604
320 -200 Champlain Street
Dieppe, NB E1A 1P1
Telephone : (506) 869-6944
Fax : (506) 869-6608

EDMUNDSTON
308 – 121 de l’Église Street
P. O. Box 5001
Edmundston, NB E3V 3L3
Telephone : (506) 735-2677
Fax : (506) 735-2527

FREDERICTON
300 Saint Mary’s Street
Fredericton, NB E3A 2S4
Telephone : (506) 453-2377
Fax : (506) 444-5189

MIRAMICHI
152 Pleasant Street
Miramichi, NB E1V 1Y1
Telephone : (506) 627-4000
Fax : (506) 624-5482

PÉNINSULE ACADIENNE
Place Bellevue
P.O. Box 5644
Caraquet, NB E1W 1B7
Telephone : (506) 726-2639
Fax : (506) 726-2728

RESTIGOUCHE/CHALEUR
City Centre Mall
100 – 157 Water Street
Campbellton, NB E3N 3L4
Telephone : (506) 789-2411
Fax : (506) 759-6696

SAINT JOHN
1 Agar Place
P. O. Box 5001
Saint John, NB E2L 4Y9
Telephone : (506) 643-7258
Fax : (506) 643-7443

The Training and Employment Support Services (TESS) component of the Employment Services Program provides supports to case managed New- Brunswickers who have a permanent physical, intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, or sensory disability to participate in training and/or employment opportunities.

A person must:

have an active Employment Action Plan;
be a resident of New Brunswick or a First Nation Community in New Brunswick;
be a high school graduate; or a high school student during part timeor summer employment; or be at least 18 years of age; or be enrolled into an adult learning program;
have a documented permanent physical, intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, or sensory disability.

Provided as part of the Employment Services Program, the purpose of TESS is to offer training and employment support options to persons with permanent physical, intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, or sensory disabilities who need to develop marketable skills in order to assist them to enter the labour force. These services are provided in full collaboration with the person with a disability in accordance with his/her needs and abilities.

It is not the intention of TESS to support training activities for individuals who already have marketable skills to enter the labour force, nor is it the intention of TESS to place persons with disabilities in a preferred position to that of persons without disabilities. By its nature, the process is also time- limited in that provision of goods and services is aimed at attaining self- sufficiency.

The objectives of TESS are to reduce and/or remove the impact of a person’s disability in order to assist the person with a disability to participate in training and/or assist the person with a disability to obtain, or to resume employment when it has been interrupted, and/or maintain employment.

It should be noted that any individual with a disability, whether or not they are receiving income support benefits, could be eligible for services under TESS.

Work Ability

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.5102.html

The Work Ability Program provides work experience opportunities to unemployed individuals who require a job placement to overcome a barrier as identified through their employment action plan. By placing an individual with an employer, they can work towards becoming job ready by establishing a career goal, developing skills, or addressing specific needs.

Eligibility – Individual

The individual must be a resident of New Brunswick.
The individual must have an employment action plan and be referred by an employment counsellor / case manager.
The individual must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, children, parents, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.
The individual must be 18 years of age or over and out of an educational institution (high school or post-secondary institution) for at least six months.

Eligibility – Employer

The Employer can be a non-profit organization, municipality, provincial government department/agency, private sector business or First Nation.
Employers must complete a client evaluation at the end of the job placement.

Eligibility – Placements

The job placement cannot displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
The job must meet the individual’s needs as per their employment action plan.
Where jobs are covered by collective agreements, the employers must consult with unions to ensure that placements are not in contravention with provisions of the collective agreement.
The job placement must be in accordance with all Provincial and Federal Acts and Regulations. The employers must pay premiums to WorkSafe NB (if applicable).

Employers who participate in the Work Ability Program must pay the individual hired and then subsequently submit wage claim forms for reimbursement to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL). Employers cannot withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed by the Department.

Employers are reimbursed on an hourly basis at a rate of minimum wage plus the employer’s share of benefits (CPP, EI and Vacation pay) for the duration of the placement. The wage reimbursement can be for up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. The duration of the job placement will depend on the employment action plan requirements.

Employers interested in participating in the Work Ability Program can submit an Inventory Registration Application to the appropriate PETL regional office. A Program Officer will contact you when an individual requiring your type of job placement is referred by an Employment Counsellor/Case Manager.

Student – SEED – Co-op Work Term

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.18676.html

This Program utilizes wage reimbursements to help provincial departments employ students in post-secondary co-operative education programs. As a co-op student, you can be employed for eight to 16 weeks to earn income, gain valuable work experience and fulfill the academic requirements of your co-op program.

A participant must:

be currently enrolled in a recognized college or university co- operative education program
be referred to the employer by a college or university

The work term must:

be with a provincial government department or agency, school district, or hospital corporation
begin and end within the term of January, April or September

SEED-Co-op Work Term is delivered year round to accommodate students who must do their work practicum during any given term. The terms are from January to April, from May to August, and from September to December. The length of a placement will be determined by the individual co-operative program description up to a maximum of 16 weeks.

Students must register through the normal process with the institution’s recognized Co-operative Education Program. They will be referred to employers directly from the university or college they are attending.

Student Entrepreneurship

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Student Entrepreneurship provides students with an entrepreneurship experience.

Student:

Applicants must be returning to full-time studies in the fall. Priority will be given to students who will be attending a post-secondary institution in the fall.
Applicants must be 16 or older. Applicants under 18 will need the signature of a guarantor acceptable to the bank in order to obtain the loan.
Because this program is administered provincially, applicants must have established New Brunswick residency or lived in the province during the last six months and be returning to full-time studies in New Brunswick in the fall. Long-term New Brunswick residents remain eligible even if they are studying outside the province. The business must be operated in New Brunswick.
An individual may have only one Student Entrepreneurship loan outstanding at any time during the program period, either as a sole proprietor or as a partner.

Business:

A business must fall under generally accepted definitions of an independent business. That means the student should have a large measure of independent control over business operations. Under this criterion, certain types of product distributorships may not be eligible (i.e., where the applicant is essentially a commissioned salesperson for a manufacturer or distributor).
The application must include a business plan that shows how the business will be able to pay back the loan by October 15.
The business must create one or more full-time summer jobs and provide the student with business experience on a daily basis (minimum of 35 hours per week).
The business has to operate for at least 6 weeks.
Businesses operating on family-owned premises or businesses must be able to demonstrate independence from the family-owned operation. If you are planning to operate an agricultural business, such as raising livestock or cash crops, you must demonstrate a significant measure of independence from the farm on which you are operating.

The Student Entrepreneurship component is a unique part of the Government of New Brunswick’s summer employment programming. It offers interest-free loans to students who wish to create summer employment and gain valuable business experience by operating their own business. Retail shops, craftspeople, painting operations, computer companies, lawn care businesses and many other original ventures have received funding under entrepreneurship programs in the past.

The Student Entrepreneurship component provides an interest-free loan of up to $3,000 to help students start a summer business that will create at least one full-time student summer job and provide the applicant with a valuable business experience. If the loan has been repaid in full, students may be reimbursed up to 1/3 of the loan, provided that all program regulations and requirements have been met.

Students who want to create their own summer job through the Student Entrepreneurship Component can pick up application booklets at their local Department’s Regional Office, Service New Brunswick Centre or Enterprise Agency. The booklet provides directions on how to prepare a business plan and advice on the steps to take to form a business.

Wage Incentive – One-Job Pledge

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Retaining our trained young professionals is part of a series of strategies aimed at rebuilding New Brunswick to accelerate our economic growth and provide us with an enhanced quality of life. To help achieve this goal, the New Brunswick Government, through its employment programs, is offering employers an improved wage incentive when they hire a recent post- secondary graduate in a job related to his or her field of study.
Employee eligibility:

Must be unemployed and be residing in New Brunswick or be willing to establish residency in New Brunswick.
Must have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in the last four years.
Post-Secondary Training must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 30 weeks in duration or be training accredited by an apprenticable trade; AND
- Be provided by a Private Occupational Training Act (POTA) recognized institution; AND/OR
- Be recognized by respective industry as post-secondary training that lead directly to full time permanent employment.
Must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, child, parent, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or a director of the organization or an immediate family member of an officer or a director.

Employer eligibility:

The employer must be a private sector company, non-profit organization or First Nation.
Employer must be prepared to provide training.

Note: Public sector positions are not eligible for funding.
Jobs eligibility:

Jobs are for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Jobs are incremental (with flexibility for Priority Groups).
Jobs must be related to the employee’s field of study.
Jobs are not paid strictly on a commission basis or piece work basis, or by the kilometer.
Jobs are not already publicly funded.
Jobs do not displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
Jobs will lead to permanent full time positions.
Jobs within First Nations are eligible except for those which are related to the band’s management.
Jobs must not start before the approval of the Department.

Funding Eligibility:
The wage reimbursement for a recent post-secondary graduate is $10 per hour, for a maximum of 40 hours per week. The duration of a subsidy for a recent post-secondary graduate is 52 weeks. The employee must be paid at least $14.00 per hour.

Note: If the employee is paid less than $14.00 per hour, refer to Employer Wage Incentive – Workforce Expansion.

Hiring is the responsibility of the employer, and it must not occur prior to the Department’s approval. Jobs must be filled within 30 days upon approval.

Participating employers will pay the employees hired under this program and will subsequently submit wage claim forms to the Department for reimbursement. Employers must not withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed.

Employers interested in participating in the Workforce Expansion Program can submit an application to the appropriate departmental office.

Employer Wage Incentive – Workforce Expansion

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.6935.html

The Employer Wage Incentive component of the Workforce Expansion Program is a collaborative effort to bring our clients, unemployed New Brunswickers, together with employers. The program builds employer/employee relationships which promote the development of our unemployed by gaining skills that ultimately result in long-term sustainable full-time employment. The component also aims at encouraging the hiring of individuals from select groups.

Employee eligibility:

Must be unemployed.
Must be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) (with the exception of members of a priority group or a Recent Post-secondary Graduate).
Must be residing in New Brunswick or be willing to establish residency in New Brunswick.
Must not be an immediate family member of the employer (spouse, schild, parent, brother, sister), nor can they be an officer or a director of the organization or a member of their immediate families.
Priority will be given to Aboriginals, Social Assistance Recipients, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, Newcomers, Older Workers, and recent Post-secondary Graduates.

Employer eligibility:

The employer must be a private sector company, non-profit organization or First Nation.
Employer must be prepared to provide training.

Note: Public sector positions are not eligible for funding.
Jobs eligibility:

Jobs are for a minimum of 30 hours per week. A minimum of 15 hours per week will be considered for recently established small businesses creating a part-time position which will eventually develop into a full-time position.
Jobs are incremental (with flexibility for Priority Groups).
Jobs are not paid strictly on a commission basis or piece work basis, or by the kilometer.
Jobs are not already publicly funded.
Jobs do not displace permanent employees on layoff, vacation, parental or sick leave.
Jobs will lead to permanent full time or extended/recurring seasonal positions.
Jobs within First Nations are eligible except for those which are related to the band’s management.
Jobs cannot start prior to approval.

Employer Wage Incentive utilizes temporary wage reimbursements to help establish permanent employment or annually recurring seasonal jobs.

A wage incentive is available to an employer at a rate and duration that depend on the type of employment that is created and individual employed:

Permanent Employment:

Unemployed individual who is EI eligible: 50 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Duration is 12-24 weeks, depending on the National Occupation Code (NOC) of the job.
Unemployed individual from a Priority Group (Aboriginals / Social Assistance Recipients / Persons with a Disability / Visible Minorities / Newcomers / Older Workers): 70 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Duration is 12-24 weeks, depending on the National Occupational Code (NOC) of the job, or 24 weeks for a disabled individual.

Annually Recurring Seasonal Job:

Unemployed individual who is EI eligible: 50 per cent of the hourly wage to a maximum of $8.00 per hour. Employment must be for a period of at least 14 weeks in duration. Funding is for half the employment period (a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 10 weeks).

Recent Post-secondary Graduates:
If the hourly wage paid by the employer is $14.00 or more per hour see: Wage Incentive – One-Job Pledge in the Related Links section.

Participating employers will pay the employees hired under this program and will subsequently submit wage claim forms to the Department of Post- Secondary Education, Training and Labour for reimbursement. Employers must not withhold wages while waiting to be reimbursed by the Department.

Employers interested in participating in the Workforce Expansion Program can submit an application to the appropriate departmental office.

Employment Assistance Services – Employment Services

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The purpose of Employment Assistance Services is to provide access to employment-related services, to individuals experiencing barriers.

In order to be served under Employment Assistance Services (EAS), clients must be provincially or regionally targeted, have an identified employment need(s), be committed to an employment action plan, and should have a realistic probability of employment. An EAS client will belong to one of the following groups:

Active EI claimant
Reachback Client
Regionally Targeted Client (not an active EI claimant or reachback client)

Employment Assistance Service (EAS) is the provision of a variety of employment services to targeted clients. The Department usually delivers EAS through external contracts in partnership with non-profit, private and/or public organizations, where direct measurable employment results (placements) are achieved.

EAS providers deliver varied services such as:

job-search assistance and resources;
job preparation programs;
one-on-one employment counseling; and
employment action plan development.

Workplace Essential Skills (WES) Program

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.200971.html”

Workplace Essential Skills (WES) training is aimed at helping adults who are employed or seeking employment and require additional essential skills to succeed. It is also available to employers who are experiencing skilled labour shortages and in need of recruitment support. Courses are offered free of charge for adult residents of New Brunswick.

Learning activities focus on the specific tasks associated with either an individual’s current job or desired occupation. Training is customized to respond to the specific needs of the work environment.

Additionally, WES training can be designed to support apprentices who have experienced difficulties with taking certification exams. Training is adapted to help apprentices prepare for tests such as the Essential Skills Assessment, Block tests or Red Seal Certification exams.

Individuals and employers interested in these courses may contact the Regional Office in their area.

Participants are assessed in the nine essential skills prior to entry into the program.

These skills include:

Reading
Document use
Writing
Numeracy
Oral communication
Working with others
Thinking skills
Computer use
Continuous learning

Adult learners who are currently employed and/or apprentices
The program is open to adults 18 years of age and older who have below functional level skills in one or more essential skills, including at least one literacy skill.

Adult learners who are seeking employment
The program is open to adults 18 years of age and older who:

have below function level skills in one or more essential skills, including at least one literacy skill;
have an occupational goal; and
who are case managed through Employment Development, Social Development, Public Safety or WorkSafe NB.

In The Workplace
PETL provides an initial Training Needs Assessment to identify the essential skills required in the specific workplace. Based on the results, training is customized and can be delivered on site. Training ends with a final evaluation of the impacts and recommendations for future learning opportunities within the business.

In The Community
WES training is based on the occupational goals that eligible individuals identify with their case manager. Training includes the opportunity to apply the skills learned in a workplace through work placement. Training ends with a final evaluation of the impacts and recommendations for future learning opportunities.

Apprentices
Apprentices who require addition help to be successful on certification exams may access training through their regional apprenticeship officer or employer.

Community Adult Learning Centre – Academic Program

Website: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.201207.html

The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour collaborates with 12 Regional Adult Learning Committees to deliver community adult learning services. These committees through Community Adult Learning Centres offer academic and digital literacy programs and services.

Academic Programs are designed to improve literacy levels in the province by bringing literacy training opportunities to adults in their own community. These programs are offered free of charge in over 70 communities around the province and are available in either English or French, depending upon the needs of the community.

Those who are interested in the program should contact the Regional Adult Learning Consultant in their area.

These free-of-charge programs are open to general public adults (18 years of age and over).
The Academic Program provides training to hep learners acquire basic knowledge and skills to strengthen their literacy and numeracy levels.
The Academic Program features an individualized, learner-centered, andragogical approach. Standard assessment, curriculum and assessment services are available. Learners may begin training at any time during the program year as an opening is available and as their schedule permits. Hours of training per week can vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.

Training components include:

English Level 1 and 2
Math Level 1 and 2
French Level 1 and 2
French Math Level 1 and 2
GED preparation (in class and online)

Each Centre has one or more computers with Internet access.