New Hampshire employers needing new hires can utilize a program that reimburses up to 90% of a new employee’s wages for up to six months of training.

The On-the-Job Training program is offered through the Department of Resources and Economic Development’s Office of Workforce Opportunity.

“While New Hampshire’s unemployment rate is well below the national average, there are still many skilled workers looking for full-time employment,” said Jackie Heuser, Director of the Office of Workforce Opportunity. “The On-the-Job Training opportunity provides employers with a great incentive to hire workers who are eager, trainable and available to re-enter the workforce.”

The training wage reimbursement applies to new hires who have been unemployed 18 weeks or longer. “The average duration of unemployment for a New Hampshire worker is currently over 16 weeks, so we know there are many highly skilled people without work through no fault of their own,” said Heuser. “The On-the-Job Training program provides an incentive to hire such men and women who only need some training to fit the particular job requirements.” For a business with 50 or fewer employees, up to 90% training wage reimbursement is available; a business with 51 to up to 250 workers can receive up to 75 percent; and a business with more than 251 employees up to 50% by utilizing the On-the-Job Training program.

“A key component is that employers are provided a list of qualified candidates, and the employer interviews and makes the selection,” said Heuser. “This is a classic ‘win-win’ situation, where a New Hampshire business owner can be reimbursed while training a new employee they select for their growing company. In addition, the unemployed worker now has a job, pays taxes, and returns to the skilled workforce New Hampshire needs to compete.”

The program can also be combined with other reimbursable job training funds designed to encourage employers to hire both trainable and skilled workers.

Heuser added that several employers have first used the state’s “Return to Work” program to test possible employees’ skills (while the trainee collects unemployment benefits); then entered into the On –the-Job Training reimbursable wage program; and continued employee training with New Hampshire’s very successful Job Training Fund.

For more information on the On-the- Job Training wage reimbursement program, contact Maggie Hinkle, Job Placement Coordinator at 603-889-0531 Ext. 3108 or mhinkle@snhs.org.