WorkFirst New Jersey On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program
With the WorkFirst New Jersey On-the-Job Training (OJT) program, you can receive up to half of your new employees' gross wages for up to 26 weeks to help defray the costs of their training.
Employment specialists at your local One-Stop Career Center will pre-screen job applicants from the WorkFirst New Jersey and Food Stamp Employment & Training programs. A WorkFirst New Jersey participant is someone who is receiving public assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance, or non-public assistance Food Stamps. The most qualified applicants will be referred to you. You can then interview candidates and make the final hiring decision.
Before you hire a WorkFirst participant, you will meet with an OJT specialist of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to draw up a contract. The contract will outline the on-the-job training requirements for each position, and specify your training reimbursement.
The WorkFirst Program depends on the active engagement of the state's business community to help create opportunities for economically disadvantaged New Jersey citizens.
To participate in this initiative:
For more information about WorkFirst OJT, contact a Business Representative at your local Business Resource Center.
To find your local Business Resource Center, search by county.
Employment specialists at your local One-Stop Career Center will pre-screen job applicants from the WorkFirst New Jersey and Food Stamp Employment & Training programs. A WorkFirst New Jersey participant is someone who is receiving public assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance, or non-public assistance Food Stamps. The most qualified applicants will be referred to you. You can then interview candidates and make the final hiring decision.
Before you hire a WorkFirst participant, you will meet with an OJT specialist of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to draw up a contract. The contract will outline the on-the-job training requirements for each position, and specify your training reimbursement.
The WorkFirst Program depends on the active engagement of the state's business community to help create opportunities for economically disadvantaged New Jersey citizens.
To participate in this initiative:
- Trainees must be participants in the WorkFirst New Jersey or Food Stamp Employment and Training programs.
- Trainees must be paid the applicable state or federal minimum wage, or $8.50 an hour, whichever is highest.
- The contract period must be at least four weeks (20 working days), but not longer than six months (130 working days), depending on the complexity of skills to be learned.
- Positions must be full time and permanent, except in special situations.
- Employers will retain trainees as permanent employees upon satisfactory completion of the training period.
- The OJT contract exists at the discretion of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
- Your OJT specialist will complete all the paperwork.
- You may use OJT reimbursement to help fund the first six months of an apprenticeship program for qualified WorkFirst participants.
- Employers who hire WorkFirst participants also may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (but not during the WorkFirst OJT period).
For more information about WorkFirst OJT, contact a Business Representative at your local Business Resource Center.
To find your local Business Resource Center, search by county.
