The program is offered by the Office of Workforce Opportunity through its contracted workforce provider, Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc. (SNHS), and can be combined with other training opportunities that encourage companies to hire unemployed New Hampshire residents, and to enhance the skills of both new and incumbent workers.

OJT Program Overview
OJT helps place unemployed New Hampshire residents who are at least 18 years old into long-term permanent jobs. Trainees are hired into full-time employment and receive employer provided training. The trainee is a paid employee of a company.

The basic purpose of OJT is to allow an employer to hire an individual who would not otherwise qualify for the job and to teach the skills needed to perform at the entry level for the position. The activity is based upon a contract between the employer and SNHS, which provides the employer with a partial wage reimbursement for an agreed-upon training time period in exchange for the provision of training by the employer and a commitment to retain the individual when the training is successfully completed.

After a standardized OJT contract is signed, the trainee is hired as an employee of the company that has agreed to provide the training. OJT training payments to employers are deemed to be compensation to the employer for the extraordinary costs associated with training participants and the costs associated with the lower productivity of the participants during the training period.

The OJT program offers up to 50% wage reimbursement for trainees. Employers who hire trainees who have been unemployed 18 weeks or longer may be eligible for wage reimbursement of up to 90% depending on the size of the company.

The OJT Program has job placement specialists who will work with the employer in the design of the training program. There is even one-time support payment for tools and other work-related necessities not generally provided by the employer.

The OJT job placement specialist can also suggest ways to combine OJT with other programs such as Return to Work, a voluntary program to provide a structured, supervised training opportunity to unemployed NH residents while they continue to collect unemployment compensation, and the Job Training Fund, a 1:1 matching grant to cover training costs for new and incumbent workers.

For more information on OJT and related programs, contact Mark Robillard, OJT Team Leader at mrobillard@snhs.org or 603-903-2197.

For more information on the Return to Work program, visit:

To learn more about the Job Training Fund, visit:

For information on all the programs offered by the Office of Workforce Opportunity, visit:

Frequently Asked Questions about OJT
There are many out-of-work people who can become great employees, and the OJT program can match employers with those prospective employees, with minimal paperwork and a maximum return for the participating company.

These FAQs address the questions most often asked by those looking into OJT.

What is On-the-Job Training (OJT)?
OJT provides reimbursements to employers to help compensate for the costs associated with skills upgrade training and loss of production for newly hired employees. OJT training can assist employers who are looking to expand their businesses and who need additional staff trained with specialized skills.

What's in it for my company?
The company is provided with eligible candidates for hiring and determines which of the candidates is best for the company.

The company receives reimbursement for the costs associated with training this new employee, which are usually calculated at up to half the pay rate for the agreed-upon training period.

The company receives prompt payments with a minimum of paperwork.

OJT staff assists the employer throughout the OJT program.

Are there restrictions to OJT?
There are a few guidelines governing the OJT program. You cannot use OJT funded trainees to replace employees laid off within six months prior to the date of your application.

You must agree to hire any OJT trainees as regular, full-time employees, and to retrain them upon successful completion of the OJT.

The rate of pay and benefits must be commensurate with what you pay others doing similar work.

How do we get the process started?
Prior to hiring the trainee, a standardized OJT contract will be completed with your company, and will specify the training to be provided to the trainee.

Who selects the OJT trainees?
The employer determines the selection criteria they want for OJT trainees. Then, SNHS will identify those clients who meet the criteria and will refer those clients to the employer, who decides the final selection of OJT trainees.

Can companies rehire one of their previously released (laid off) employees?
Yes, a business can re-hire a previous employee but it must be for a different position for which they would need training and the candidate must meet the eligibility guidelines.

What if an employer has already selected a candidate for OJT training?
If an employer has already selected a candidate AND the candidate is approved as eligible, SNHS can work with the employer to design a training contract.

How long will the process take to get the OJT approved?
Hiring an OJT trainee doesn't take long. As soon as a training plan and a contract has been agreed upon and completed, the trainee can begin working for the company.