If you are a "mature learner" looking to upgrade your skills, perhaps you qualify for one of these two programs:
Second Career
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
Second Career
Second Career is a government of Ontario initiative that provides laid-off workers with:
- Skills training to help them find jobs in high-demand occupations in Ontario
- Financial support
Second Career is a cost-sharing grant provided on the basis of need, so participants may be asked to contribute what they can to their training or education.
Second Career provides up to $28,000 for:
- Tuition
- Books
- Other instruction costs such as manuals or workbooks
- Transportation
- A basic living allowance
Participants may choose a training course from a private career college or a community college. They are required to research courses offered by at least three institutions.
Is Second Career right for me?
You can apply to Second Career if you:
- Are laid off or have been laid off since January 2005
- Are unemployed or working an interim job
- Are choosing to retrain for a career that is in demand
Second Career provides help to laid-off workers in need who will benefit most from training to find work. Several factors are considered to determine who will receive funding. We will help applicants based on their:
- Active job search
- Length of unemployment
- Educational background
- Work history
- Labour market prospects
- Training request
- Experience and occupational skills
Those interested in Second Career are asked to visit an Employment Ontario assessment centre and talk to a counsellor to find out if Second Career is right for them.
To search locations online: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/search.asp
To search locations online: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/search.asp
Detailed information about Second Career is available on the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
Overview
The initiative is intended to assist older workers with programming that increases their employability, reintegrates them into employment and ensures that they remain active and productive labour market participants while their communities undergo adjustment.
Who can participate?
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is open to the following clients:
- Aged 55 to 64
- Unemployed
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- Lack skills needed to find a new job
- Live in a vulnerable community- one with high unemployment, largely dependent on a single employer or industry and has a population of 250,000 or less
How can I access the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers?
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers are offered by approved organizations that are located in vulnerable communities.
Where can I find more information?
Call the toll-free Employment Ontario Hotline at 1-800-387-5656 TTY (telephone service for the deaf) 1-866-533-6339 for the phone number and location of the organizations selected to provide services to older workers. Also http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/programs/tiow.html

