Employability Plans

Effective: July 1, 2026

The Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA) is used to support the development and review of an Employability Plan (EP) (HR3740). An EP outlines necessary steps toward employment and may include activities to address barriers. The MCNA is used to determine:

• Whether an EP is required, voluntary, or not required; and

• Appropriate employability-related conditions and referrals, where applicable

Recipients who do not agree to enter into an MCNA, unless temporarily exempt, may be subject to employability-related sanctions. To learn more, review the Sanctions topic.

Employability-related sanctions should not be applied where there may be barriers that prevent a recipient from participating in a MCNA or entering into or complying with an EP. For more information, review the Establishing Employability-Related Obligations topic.

Effective: July 1, 2025

The Employability Plan (EP) sets out employability-related conditions. Each recipient in a family unit may be required by the ministry to enter into an EP, unless exempt.

Recipients with employability-related obligations who do not agree to enter into an EP, unless temporarily exempt, or who do not comply with its conditions may be subject to employability-related sanctions. To learn more, review the Sanctions topic.

Employability-related sanctions should not be applied where there may be barriers that prevent a recipient from entering into or complying with an EP. Employability-related sanctions should not be applied to recipients with no-employability-related obligations who have entered into an EP on a voluntary basis.

For more information, review the Establishing Employability-Related Obligations topic.

Effective: July 1, 2025

Changes to an Employability Plan (EP) are called amendments. An EP may be updated when a recipient’s circumstances change. The most recent version of the EP is the one the recipient is expected to follow.

Whenever an EP is amended, the recipient must acknowledge the updated employability-related conditions.

Effective: July 1, 2025

The Employability Plan (EP) is reviewed and updated regularly to support recipients in progressing towards employment and meeting their employability-related obligations. If a recipient does not meet the conditions of their EP, they may be subject to employability-related sanctions. To learn more, review the Sanctions topic.

Effective: July 1, 2025

The ministry uses the following standards to implement policy concerning minimum EP review requirements and compliance:

• Mandatory minimum review requirements and timeframes
• Reporting requirements
• Review procedures for employment programs
• Procedures and standards for assessing compliance: This section includes assessing and verifying the legitimacy of mitigating circumstances for non-compliance
• Procedures and standards for applying sanctions for non-compliance
• Procedures and standards for developing EPs for recipients with barriers 

Effective: July 1, 2025

Recipients without employability-related obligations or temporarily exempt can participate in an Employability Plan (EP) on a voluntary basis. For more information, review the Establishing Employability-Related Obligations topic.

Note: an EP may be required to participate in education or training programs. To learn more, review the Education and Training topic.

Effective: July 1, 2025

Recipients may be referred for participation in employment-related programs and services.

Employment service providers assist recipients in developing a plan and obtaining necessary skills to attain sustainable employment.

For more information, review the Employability Supports topic.

Effective: September 1, 2024

Ministry staff will work with you to complete a Ministry Client Needs Assessment (MCNA) to assess and develop your Employability Plan (EP) and monitor your progress unless exempt.

Effective: July 1, 2026

If you are required to take part in employability planning, ministry staff will explain what is expected of you, when you need to do it, and what may happen if the requirement is not met.

You may be asked to:

• Complete a Ministry Client Needs Assessment;
• Take part in developing an Employability Plan; and
• Participate in activities listed in your plan.

Effective: July 1, 2026

If you need to enter into an Employability Plan (EP), ministry staff will review the plan with you, explain the activities or conditions it includes, talk about timelines, explain how your participation will be followed up, and give you a copy of the plan.

Ministry staff may monitor your participation in your assessment, plan, or agreed activities.

If you miss an appointment, do not respond, or have difficulty taking part, ministry staff will try to contact you and understand your situation before making any decision about non-compliance. They will also consider whether your circumstances have changed, whether your plan should be updated, or whether an exemption may apply.

Before deciding that you are non-compliant, ministry staff will make sure the requirement was clearly explained, you had a fair opportunity to meet it, and your situation was considered.