News Release

MONCTON (GNB) – The One-Job Pledge initiative is garnering a great deal of interest from graduates and employers alike. It helps businesses create quality jobs and new opportunities for recent graduates in the province.

"Our government announced the initiative at the end of January of this year, and thanks to this innovative idea, we have already created more than 250 positions, 50 of them in the Moncton region alone," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Danny Soucy. "For example, one company in Moncton, Black and McDonald Ltd., has already created two jobs for recent graduates under the program."

One-Job Pledge is an investment in young New Brunswickers as well as in New Brunswick businesses that are poised to grow despite challenging economic circumstances.

"As any business owner, or manager, can attest to: there is significant pressure for employers to ensure that new hires become fiscally productive as quickly as possible,” said Scott Hue, New Brunswick service manager, Black and McDonald Ltd. “In a competitive marketplace, every employee must contribute to the bottom line of the business. The New Brunswick government, through its introduction of the One-Job Pledge program, has shown its commitment to New Brunswick business by helping alleviate some of that pressure."

Under the program, New Brunswick businesses that qualify will receive a one-year wage incentive when they hire a permanent, full-time employee who graduated from a post-secondary institution in the past four years. These businesses must pay a minimum salary of $14 per hour. The initiative will allow for the reimbursement of 70 per cent of the salary to a maximum of $10 per hour for 52 weeks.

One-Job Pledge is part of the Workforce Expansion Program administered by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

The Workforce Expansion Program is among several initiatives made possible through the Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Development Agreement and the Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreement. More information is available by calling the nearest provincial employment office or by visiting the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour website.