Frequently Asked Questions

The Get BC Working! Program

The Program is designed to provide BC job seekers with the skills that are required to be successful in the labour market through a combination of on-the-job training, work experience and formal skills development training. To address BC’s current and future skills shortage challenges, we need to offer job opportunities and training to unemployed and precariously employed BC residents and maximize their skills.

The Program offers Employment Counselling, Job Entry Skills, Certificate Training, Paid Work Experience, Mentoring and Post Job Placement Support to eligible individuals. Employers that hire and train eligible individuals and provide full time sustainable employment are eligible for a negotiated Wage Subsidy incentive up to $3600.

Bowman Employment Services Inc. (BES) has an Agreement with the Province of BC to market and administer the Get BC Working! Program to eligible employers and job seekers in all eligible regions of BC.

BES is a private, incorporated entity and has been providing employment services since March 1989.

  • In operation for at least one year
  • In good standing with WorkSafeBC
  • Must employ an eligible individual for a minimum of 3 months with preference given to long-term positions over 6 months (non-seasonal employment)
  • Employers will NOT qualify if employee starts prior to signing Get BC Working Funding Agreement

Once an application has been received, if both parties are eligible, it generally takes up to 5 business days to process and set up a Wage Subsidy Funding Agreement.

No – employers conduct their own recruiting and hiring.

In order to be considered eligible for this program the applicant must:

  • Unemployed or Precariously employed (working unstable or irregular hours (such as casual labour or on-call work), working for unreliable wages (such as piecework or commission) and/or working for earnings that cannot support an individual or their family
  • Seeking long-term employment
  • Facing challenges to obtaining employment
  • Not receiving duplicative financial supports from another provincially or federally funded labour market program, though may be receiving complementary, nonduplicative financial supports from other programs, such as WorkBC
  • Resident of BC (living in BC as a Canadian, a permanent resident, recent immigrant or a protected person) and legally entitled to work in Canada (not utilizing a student visa, study or closed permit)

Please complete a program information form and a member of our team will contact you.

Employers can register online at www.worksafebc.com

Funding agreements are generally 3 months in length with payment at the end of the three-month period. You will receive monitor calls (minimum once per month) from a Placement Coordinator to ensure that the hiring conditions are being met.