In an effort to retain and recruit Northwest Territories residents to the territorial labour force, the Northern Graduate Employment Program offers recent graduates of recognized degree and diploma programs a range of options to return to live and work in the NWT.

There are many occupations into which the government has significant difficulty recruiting Northerners with the necessary education and experience. Accordingly, we have guaranteed employment to all northern graduates of recognized nursing, teaching and social work diploma and degree programs.

In addition, we are offering one-year internships to post-secondary graduates of other programs in a range of additional occupations. This will provide a year of relevant work experience for students wishing to return to the NWT to work.

The private sector is also playing an important role in this initiative. Each private employer who hires a northern graduate will be eligible for a wage subsidy of $15,000 for the first year of employment.