With 200,000 open jobs available across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Baker-Polito administration announced the HireNow program to help Massachusetts employers fill available roles. Currently, unfilled job postings are up 20% compared to pre-pandemic data, while over 85,000 workers are not currently participating in the labor market.

The HireNow program provides eligible employers with a $4,000 per employee grant of flexible funds which may be used for hiring costs such as training expenses or as signing bonuses for new employees.

Any Massachusetts employer (excluding federal, state, and municipal gocernment) is eligible for this grant program so long as they have not been de-barred by the state and they are in good standing with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance. There are eligibility requirements for those hired as well as limits on compensation. Following an employee’s hire and a 60-day retention period, employers will have the opportunity to submit a final application for funding.

"We are excited to add HireNow to our growing number of grant programs that aim to close job and equity gaps across the Commonwealth," said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. "We hope these funds will encourage employers to expand their hiring strategy to include those with potential for learning and growing on the job, over a direct-skills match, as this will widen the candidate pool and help both jobseekers and businesses."

Visit Mass.Gov/HireNow to learn more about the program and to pre-register.