September 11, 2025 - The Alberta Government today announced a new incentive program to help combat youth unemployment in Alberta. This partnership with Careers the Next Generation (a non-profit who will administer the funding) aims to create new youth focused roles in small businesses to ensure youth have a great start to their working careers. For many, their first job is the one that teaches lessons of responsibility and consciousness. The horticultural industry has a long history working with young people and teaching lessons for life (and love of plants and people). In fact, the announcement was made at long-time member garden centre and landscape firm, Classic Landscape (Ellerslie Gift and Gardens) right here in Edmonton. Our friend Perry Stothart spoke after the Premiere and Minister regarding the positive impacts a first job in horticultural has had on hundreds and hundreds of youth over the years. (Way to go Perry and the Payne family!)
Program Overview for Eligible Businesses
The Alberta Youth Employment Incentive program provides financial assistance to registered for-profit businesses to hire young Albertans aged 16 to 24. This program is an excellent opportunity for small businesses to expand their workforce while significantly reducing hiring costs.
The funding structure is tiered based on the number of youth hired and the total hours they work:
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$4,000 for hiring 1 to 2 youth who collectively work a minimum of 400 hours.
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$7,500 for hiring 3 to 5 youth who collectively work a minimum of 750 hours.
A key benefit for businesses with multiple locations is that they can apply for the maximum funding for each location.
How Landscape, Greenhouse, and Horticultural Businesses Can Best Take Advantage
Businesses in these sectors are perfectly positioned to benefit from this program because they are registered for-profit businesses that are operational in Alberta. The seasonal nature of the work often requires a flexible and expanding workforce, making young, energetic talent an ideal fit.
To maximize the benefits, these businesses should:
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Plan Ahead: Align hiring needs with the program's funding tiers. For example, if a business needs three extra hands for the busy spring and summer seasons, they could target the $7,500 incentive by hiring three youth to work at least 250 hours each.
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Meet the Hour Requirements: Ensure that hired youth are scheduled to work enough hours to meet the minimum threshold (400 or 750 combined hours).
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Leverage Multiple Locations: If a business has more than one garden center or greenhouse, it can apply for funding for each location, potentially multiplying the total incentive received.
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Invest in Long-Term Talent: Use the program as a way to "test" potential long-term employees. The provided information notes that hiring youth helps "build a pipeline of skilled, job-ready workers," which is crucial for retaining a talented workforce in these industries.
Suggested Job Roles for Youth
The program highlights the benefits of youth employment, including their tech savviness, energy, and adaptability. Small businesses can leverage these qualities by creating entry-level and hands-on roles that also incorporate modern tools and systems.
In the landscape and horticultural industries, suitable jobs for youth could include:
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Horticultural Assistant: Assisting with planting, pruning, weeding, and general plant care.
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Greenhouse Technician/Nursery Assistant: Helping with watering, transplanting, and maintaining plant stock.
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Gardener/Landscaping Crew Member: Performing tasks such as mowing, trimming, mulching, and planting for residential or commercial clients.
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Customer Service & Retail Sales Associate: Working in a garden center to assist customers, manage inventory, and handle point-of-sale transactions.
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Delivery and Logistics Assistant: Helping with the loading and delivery of plants, soil, and other landscaping supplies.
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Social Media & Digital Marketing Assistant: Utilizing their tech skills to manage the company's social media presence, create promotional content, and update the website with new products or services. This is a great way to "spark growth" and "keep your business current" as mentioned in the program details.
For more info please visit - https://ayeincentive.ca/
We expect this program to be highly subscribed and as such are suggesting to apply early, even if the intent is to have positions start in 2026.