Program Redesign

There were three phases of program redesign between December 2020 and April 2022.

The Better Jobs Ontario program (formerly Second Career) was redesigned to simplify and strengthen the program, while strategically re-focusing it within the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related labour market shifts and economic recovery. Better Jobs Ontario Redesign was a key lever for the government’s efforts to provide displaced workers and other jobseekers with access to training supports to enable workforce resiliency and prosperity through sustainable employment success.

Phase 1 of the redesign, implemented in December 2020, provided fast-tracked access to individuals laid-off from sectors highly impacted by COVID-19. Changes also focused on shorter-duration training in jobs that are in demand and in local or provincial priority areas, such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, information and communication technology, and supportive health services.

Phase 2, implemented in July 2021, further improved access for individuals by increasing financial support amounts available for living expenses to reflect the current costs of living, simplifying the application process, and beginning to test a new online application process.

Phase 3 of the Better Jobs Ontario Redesign, implemented in April 2022, expanded program eligibility and suitability to individuals with challenges transitioning into sustainable employment, and therefore would not have previously been eligible due to limited labour market attachment. These changes improved access for client groups with known barriers to labour market attachment, which may have been exacerbated by COVID-19, such as newcomers, people with disabilities, youth with employment barriers, and social assistance recipients.

Phase 3 also re-named the program Better Jobs Ontario to better reflect the expanded scope of the program and launched the digital application province-wide.

The ministry will continue to review and improve the Better Jobs Ontario program as the labour market evolves.