Post-Secondary Student Program
PEI employers who hire students during summer may qualify for the employee wage subsidy offered through two separate student employment programs:
Supports full-time post-secondary students working a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 18 weeks during the summer.
Offered by SkillsPEI
Amount
Funding for full-time positions: 50% of the provincial minimum wage plus 4% vacation pay for up to 40 hours per week (Private Sector); 100% of the provincial minimum wage plus 4% vacation pay for up to 40 hours per week (Non-Profit and Public Sector)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- PEI employers who hire students during summer
- Full-time post-secondary students working a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 18 weeks during the summer
- The exact number of weeks designated per placement will be based on factors such as but not limited to: position, wage, and the likelihood of opportunity for experiential learning
- Students must be entering or returning to full-time post-secondary studies in the Fall
- Priority will be given to employers able to demonstrate they will provide post-secondary students with a valuable experiential learning opportunity related to the student's field of study (e.g. Pathways to Apprenticeship, Health-related occupations)
- Experiential Learning opportunities are presented by employers who meaningfully contribute to and advance a student’s education through summer employment
- Experiential learning could include: practical field-related skills; insight and knowledge that would benefit the student in their academic pursuits; and/or interactions with environments related to their field of study
- Non-profits
- Private Businesses
- Public Sector: All project proposals must have signature of the sponsoring department or agency’s deputy head or their designate
- Priority will be given to employers who provide employment opportunities that promote community economic development and/or provide a valuable experiential learning opportunity related to the student’s field of study
- Employers can set the wage rate but must provide at least the provincial minimum wage rate of $17.00/hour (as of April 1, 2026)
- The project summary and payroll records must be submitted within 30 days of the project’s completion
- Funding cannot be applied from both programs to a single position
About the funding
Employers can set the wage rate but must provide at least the provincial minimum wage rate of $17.00/hour (as of April 1, 2026). The program wage reimbursement support is determined by the employer type (refer to the below table).
Employer Type: Non-Profit; Student Summer Employment Programs (Jobs for Youth and Post Secondary Student Program): Funding for full-time positions 100% of the provincial minimum wage plus 4% vacation pay for up to 40 hours per week
Employer Type: Private Sector; Student Summer Employment Programs (Jobs for Youth and Post Secondary Student Program): Funding for full-time positions 50% of the provincial minimum wage plus 4% vacation pay for up to 40 hours per week
Employer Type: Public Sector
Show all funding details
Student Summer Employment Programs (Jobs for Youth and Post Secondary Student Program): Funding for full-time positions 100% of the provincial minimum wage plus 4% vacation pay for up to 40 hours per week
Student Summer Employment Programs (Jobs for Youth and Post Secondary Student Program): All project proposals must have signature of the sponsoring department or agency’s deputy head or their designate
For all sectors, only wages and vacation pay are eligible for subsidy, all other costs (EI, CPP, Workers Compensation premiums, etc) are the responsibility of the employer. The project summary and payroll records must be submitted within 30 days of the project’s completion. Any unused portion of any payment must be repaid to the funding agency, Employment Development Agency or Skills PEI.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employ PEI – For Employers | Subsidy | Wage subsidy of up to 50% of the new employee's wages, to a maximum contribution of $12.50 per hour, for a maximum of 20 weeks | Open |
| Canada Summer Jobs Program | Subsidy | No fixed amount | Open |
| ESDC Student Work Placement Program | Subsidy | Up to $5,000 for every opportunity offered to a student through the program | Open |
| NRC IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP) | Subsidy | No fixed amount | Open |
